Premarital agreements, which you likely have heard called prenuptial agreements or prenups, are a tool that couples can use to protect themselves going into a marriage. If you are in the process of getting married, you should consider having a premarital agreement drafted. At the Law Offices of Ronald K. Stitch, our certified family law specialists will sit with you and discuss the details with you. Let our Thousand Oaks premarital agreements attorneys get to work on your behalf today.
We can talk about prenups
Many people think that getting a premarital agreement signed before the marriage occurs is betting against a marriage. That is not the case, and marriages with solid prenups in place often thrive. These agreements are commonly thought of as being useful only for the famous and wealthy, but they can be extremely beneficial for all types of people.
At the Law Offices of Ronald K. Stitch, we understand that prenups are not a tool to “plan for a failed marriage.” We know that these agreements are used to determine a variety of protections for both parties. Premarital agreements often include:
- Provisions for property division in the event of a divorce.
- How property acquired before a marriage is counted (joint or separate property)
- How assets obtained during the marriage will be counted (joint or separate property)
- Matters involving debts acquired during the marriage
- Benefits, trusts, and inheritances that children from prior relationships can claim
It is important to note that premarital agreements have no bearing on child support or child custody and visitation matters. These are handled under California law regardless of what a premarital agreement says.
During the course of a marriage, a couple may decide to change portions of the premarital agreement. These post-nuptial agreements can be made, and an attorney can help ensure the changes are filed with the court.
Making disclosures before marriage
One of the most common causes of divorce is financial trouble. By working to have a premarital agreement, both parties will sit down and disclose their full financial situation to the other party. This disclosure includes income, property, student loans, mortgage debts, credit card debts, and more. Full disclosure is required by both parties in order for a premarital agreement to be valid. Both parties have the right to have separate attorneys look over the agreement before signing.
Let our team get to work on your behalf
Marriage is something to look forward to, and both spouses should enter into marriage comfortable knowing they are protected. Premarital agreements, commonly referred to as prenups, are excellent ways for a couple to decide how their assets will be treated during their marriage and in the event a divorce occurs. At the Law Offices of Ronald K. Stitch, our Thousand Oaks premarital agreements attorney will sit with you and thoroughly review your case so we can draft an agreement that is fair for all parties involved. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or by calling 818-237-4574.