305-358-2330A prenuptial agreement is not just for the rich. In fact, couples who have acquire only a couple of assets can still benefit from this pre-marital agreement.
What is a Prenuptial Agreement?
A prenup is a contractual agreement between a couple that is agreed upon before marriage. The content of these agreements is customized to the needs of the couple and can vary widely. They can include:
- Information about Assets
- How assets are handled upon divorce
- How couples are required to behave in the marriage
- What happens if either breaches the contract
Do I Really Need a Prenuptial Agreement?
There are many marriages that end in divorce, and while that is unfortunate, protecting yourself and your assets is important. If you don’t get a divorce, you will never have to worry about the content in your prenuptial agreement, but at least it is there in the event divorce is necessary and does occur.
If you have assets of any kind, such as a retirement account or evena home, you will want to protect those assets in the event you get a divorce. Without a prenuptial agreement, your assets will have to follow the division of asset procedure in court – and any pre-marital could be subject to equitable asset division.
Prenuptial Agreements are Not Just for Your Bank Accounts
Prenuptial agreements are not just for your bank accounts. In the results of a 2013 survey of family law attorneys, it was shown that prenuptial agreements contained:
- 80% focused on protecting separate property;
- 77% focused on spousal maintenance and alimony requirements;
- 72% focused on the division of property in the event of a divorce;
- 62% focused on protecting property during a division;
- 39% focused on inheritance rights;
- 23% focused on community property division;
- 18% focused on the occupancy of the marital residence;
- 15% discussed how attorney’s fees would be handled;
- 11% focused on life insurance policies;
- 3% focused on the details of a second home;
- 2% focused on how health insurance would be handled.
Getting Married? Schedule an Appointment for a Prenuptial Agreement
While you don’t want to go into a marriage planning for divorce, look at it as insurance. You buy health insurance even though you may not need it, so why not protect your assets just in case?
Contact the Law Offices of Aliette H. Carolan today to discuss your prenuptial agreement. We can help you draft an agreement or negotiate your half of the agreement with your soon-to-be spouse.