What Every Newly-Engaged Couple Should Know about Prenuptial Agreements
Family law isn't just about deciding who pays child support, how much they will pay and who has custody of the children. There are other tasks a family lawyer can handle, and one of these includes prenuptial agreements. If you are a newly-engaged couple considering signing a prenup, there are a few things you should know.
Determining if a Prenuptial Agreement is Necessary
The first thing you should consider as a newly-engaged couple is if a prenuptial agreement is actually necessary. Some of the considerations that lead to this type of family law agreement are cases where one member of the couple has more property or money than the other. Another consideration is if you or your future spouse may be getting a sizable inheritance during the foreseeable future. This may lead to a designated and legal line of property being drawn up to ensure you keep what you are entitled to if a divorce should occur.
Unlisted Items on the Agreement
One of the reasons that many couples choose to use a family lawyer when it comes to prenuptial agreements is to avoid missing items or not listing certain items. When you do this yourself, you may forget something that a lawyer will automatically ask about or mention due to their experience in the field. What you need to know about unlisted items is that if they are not on the prenuptial agreement, they can be brought up in court and the other spouse can fight for them if they wish to. This makes it vital that you use a professional family lawyer to ensure that this does not happen and that everything is listed as it should be.
Making Changes to the Prenuptial Agreement
There are several misconceptions regarding this type of legal agreement, and one of them is that no changes can be made. This isn't the case. In fact, if you use a family lawyer and something does change on the agreement, you can make an appointment and make that change. Examples of this would be inheriting a large amount of money or property suddenly. You want to keep it in the family or use it as a retirement option later, but you don't want to lose it during a divorce. You could go to your family lawyer and have this amended and added to the agreement fairly easily.
These are just three things that you should know as a newly-engaged couple considering a prenuptial agreement. If you are ready to see what options you have, contact your local family law practice or lawyer for a consultation. They will be happy to discuss options and give you price estimates and retainer fees.