Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements
Marriage and remarriage can be some of the happiest times in our lives. Wedding plans, honeymoons … planning a life together can be an exciting time for a couple.
But many couples also have more pragmatic issues to deal with. Perhaps one person owns a business, or the other has incurred large debts. Maybe there are children and inheritances to consider.
At the Routzon Law Firm we understand that negotiating a pre- or post-marital agreement requires legal and financial knowledge, as well as a sensitivity to each party’s needs. We will review your assets and discuss the options available to you with a pre- or post-marital agreement. Call our office today to schedule a consultation with our experienced attorneys.
A premarital agreement establishes what each party’s property rights will be if the marriage ends in divorce or if one spouse dies before the other. It is a legal contract that lists the assets and debts each person has prior to the marriage. Money, property, business assets (and liabilities), etc. can be listed and protected in a prenuptial agreement. When the agreement is drafted, there must be full and fair disclosure from each party. If all assets and debts are not disclosed at that time, the agreement will not be legally binding.
Many people find themselves in a position to consider remarriage later in life, after they have acquired things such as property, finances, or other assets. Having already been through the pain and financial discord of a divorce, a prenuptial agreement can serve to protect a person’s finances or property in the case of a new, and sometimes unpredictable, marriage.
Marrying as a young person may or may not mean bringing assets into a marriage; remarriage as a not-so-young person may mean that one or both parties own property or have significant financial assets. A premarital agreement can designate the division and/or responsibility for those assets. Provisions such as the “sunset provision” can also be beneficial: assets and/or property are protected or divided depending on how long the marriage lasts.
Remarriages or marriages later in life can also come with the possibility of debt. A prenuptial agreement can protect the new spouse from liability for those debts. Call our family attorneys at the Routzon Law Firm to schedule a consultation today.
Prenuptial agreements can be particularly useful for blended families wanting to set aside assets for children or to protect children from debts brought into the marriage or incurred during the marriage.
Post-marital agreements are similar to premarital agreements, but they are drafted after a couple is married. You can use a post-marital agreement to protect new assets you acquire during the marriage. You can also use a post-nuptial agreement to separate assets in order to protect one spouse from the debts and liability of the other spouse. This is especially important for business owners, doctors, and other professionals whose assets may be subject to lawsuits or who wish to use the agreement for tax planning purposes.
A post-marital agreement can also function like a pre-divorce settlement to outline specific property rights of each party. To arrange an appointment with our Texas post-marital agreement lawyers, please call us at 817.616.0734 or make an appointment online.
Honesty is crucial in a marriage, whether prior to or during the marriage. When the agreement is drafted, there must be full and fair disclosure from each party. If all assets and debts are not disclosed at that time, the agreement will not be legally binding.
Taking measures to protect practical matters such as finances and property can leave both members of a couple relaxed, reassured, and ready to begin (or continue) their lives together. Call us today at 817-616-0734 to schedule your appointment.