What Prenuptial Agreements Are and Why They are Truly Important and Necessary
What are prenuptial agreements? A prenup, also known as a prenup agreement, is a legal written contract between a married couple before marriage or a civil union which enables them to decide on and manage many of the financial aspects of a marriage.
It states the financial division of the assets of both spouses in case of death or divorce. While the signing of this contract is usually a prelude to marriage, it is not considered a legally binding agreement until signed by both spouses.
This means that while you and your spouse may have discussed various topics such as how to manage your money, your estate planning, and other matters concerning your relationship, it is entirely possible that things could still fall out of place and that neither of you feels comfortable discussing them with your in-laws.
In most cases, prenups are made when the couple has been together for less than 10 years. Unlike a postnuptial agreement which is made after marriage, prenuptial is made before marriage or civil unions are contracted.
The only difference between these two is that prenuptial take place within a community property state while postnuptial have to be filed separately in each state where the couple has decided to marry. Once signed, the prenuptial will protect assets belonging to either the husband or the wife.
In some cases, these agreements also protect children born out of a married couple, although the laws governing prenups differ from state to state. In Canada, prenuptial agreements are becoming more common due to the breakdown of the traditional family structure.
Many couples who wed and agree upon a prenup before marriage, never realize that the written document could easily be changed afterward, especially if one or both partners suffer from a serious medical condition, such as diabetes.
Although divorce is generally considered to be the final solution to marital problems, it should not be used as a means of resolving disputes over prenuptial. A divorce would require the submission of many court orders, which are often cumbersome for the marital union to undergo.
Most couples agree that prenuptial agreements are a way of ensuring that their marriage does not end in divorce. They are also helpful in the case of when a marriage ends with a divorce proceeding. When a marriage ends in divorce, it is normal to want to retain all of the assets belonging to one or both partners. Although, take note that prenups in Australia are different.
Many couples have used pre-nuptials to prevent creditors from demanding their respective assets during divorce proceedings. The courts have taken these prenuptial very seriously, thus making it necessary for couples to obtain court approval prior to signing any agreements.
When spouses agree upon a prenup and file their agreement with the court, they may choose to include provisions regarding spousal support. Spousal support is usually the responsibility of the spouse who has more income.
If a judge feels that an agreement is fair, he may order alimony payments to be made by one or both parties to the other, depending on each party’s financial needs. Alimony is different from child support in that the amount is ordered based on the net income of the custodial parent and is usually ordered for a specific period of time.
Many couples enter into pre-nuptial agreements to avoid entering into a marriage that would be considered inappropriate in their social and economic circles. When a couple decides to get married, it is customary to inform close friends and relatives of the impending nuptials.
In addition, the individuals’ parents may also be informed, so that they can prepare their children for the marriage. Usually, it takes several months to six months before a marriage occurs, so it may be difficult to arrange alimony or child support payments prior to the marriage.
When a marriage comes to an end, there is usually a great deal of pain and suffering. It is important for couples to come to terms with the issues surrounding their divorce so that they can move on with their lives. Some people believe that prenups will prevent their partners from contesting a divorce suit. Such an argument could not be more wrong.
Prenuptial agreements will not prevent one spouse from contesting a divorce, but such agreements will provide a level of legal protection for one spouse. Without such an agreement to prevent divorce, the spouse who does not have the agreement will be at risk of losing some or all of the assets of the other spouse.
This can lead to extreme financial hardships and could cause the other spouse to seek full custody of the children. Without a prenup agreement, it could be extremely difficult to prove that one spouse was responsible for the divorce.
The laws governing prenuptial vary from state to state. Therefore, it is important for couples to seek the advice of a competent attorney before making any final decisions regarding such agreements. Such agreements should be seen as a tool by which couples protect their interests prior to a divorce, rather than as an opportunity to get out of paying alimony.
In the event of a divorce, such agreements are often the only option available to a spouse seeking to protect his or her interest in a property. Thus, it is crucial to discuss such matters with an attorney prior to executing a plan of action.