The financial impact of divorce is significant – and it can last for the rest of your life if you are not careful. A prenuptial agreement helps you protect yourself from this kind of fallout, as well as any other kind of property division that goes against your wishes.
While there is no way to guarantee that this kind of contract will protect you from every problem, it does offer a very high level of protection in most cases.
Without a prenuptial agreement, spouses are subject to the rules of equitable distribution when they divorce (Family Code Sections 760 & 761).
The Alkam Law Offices is a family law firm specializing in prenuptial agreement law in Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties. If you need help drafting a prenuptial agreement or learning more about this kind of contract, do not hesitate to schedule an appointment. Call +1 (714) 491-2556 today!
Request a Consultation with one of our Experienced Attorneys: +1 (714) 491-2556
Contact the Attorneys at Alkam Law Offices today to discuss your options.
Protecting Yourself and Your Future Family with a Prenuptial Agreement
A prenuptial agreement is a legal contract between two people about to get married. This kind of contract aims to set out the rules for how assets will be handled should the marriage end in divorce or death. This type of agreement can also affect how things work during your marriage – especially when a couple has a blended family.
At its most basic level, a prenuptial agreement is an easy way to protect yourself from some problems that are likely to arise in any marriage. By carefully considering what you need out of your property division plan, creating a prenuptial agreement can help you avoid some of the common financial pitfalls following a divorce.
What Can a Prenuptial Agreement Cover?
The rules for drafting a prenuptial agreement are straightforward – the more complicated your plan for property division will be, the more complicated your contract needs to be. That means this kind of agreement can cover any issues you feel strongly about regarding property and assets.
Some of the potential issues that a prenuptial agreement can address include:
- How much each person is expected to contribute to non-marital property (for example, money that one spouse earned before the marriage or received as a gift)?
- How debts will be handled if the end of the marriage does take place?
- Division of assets and property division upon death or divorce.
You can also use a prenuptial agreement to set out the child support and child custody rules in your marriage. In this case, it is often better to have an attorney help you draft the document to comply with state law.
In general, anything you feel strongly about regarding property division or other issues should be addressed explicitly in your contract.
Drafting a Prenuptial Agreement
When you are ready to draft your prenuptial agreement, you must ensure that both spouses understand what is being put into the contract. This means that it should be written in a way that is easy to understand – skipping over legal jargon whenever possible. In addition, each spouse should have his or an attorney who can explain anything in the agreement which seems unclear.
Both people need to know precisely what they are getting into before signing the agreement. To this end, it is essential to make sure that both spouses are fully informed about property and assets in advance of signing the contract. If any questions arise after the document has been signed, you can always renegotiate certain points with your spouse.
Get the Protection You Need – and Deserve
Even if you feel that you have nothing to hide, it is still advisable for both partners in a marriage to sign a prenuptial agreement before getting married. By taking this step, couples can demonstrate their good faith intentions and avoid suspicion regarding their motives should problems arise later.
We have been helping spouses get the protection they need and deserve for over 20 years. As one of the most respected family law firms in California, we have a deep understanding of all aspects of property division and can help you with any prenuptial agreement that you may want to draft.
If you would like more information on prenuptial agreements and how they can help your marriage, please give us a call at +1 (714) 491-2556 or visit our online contact form to schedule a consultation.
We look forward to speaking with you!
