Not only is the divorce rate going up these days, but the rate at which couples are signing a prenuptial agreement has also been on the rise.
Although it has long been perceived as a measure to protect the wealthy from gold diggers, spouses of a wider range of incomes are now signing prenuptial agreements as a way to determine how their property will be divided in the event of a divorce. It essentially provides a blueprint for how debts, assets, and other financial matters will be handled within the marital estate if the marriage ends.
Rather than a sign that trust is lacking in the relationship, one could think of a prenuptial agreement as a way to speed up the divorce process and even improve marital happiness by helping spouses avoid disputes over money and property.
Reasons for Getting A Prenuptial Agreement
Spouses generally want to consider signing a prenuptial agreement if they have any personal or otherwise pre-marital property they want to protect from the possibility of getting touched during divorce. This includes any property the person owns, including real estate, a retirement account, and/or their business(es) if they?re a business owner. These agreements can, and often do, involve property the spouses expect they will receive after the date of the marriage, but that both parties agree will remain, for all intents and purposes, that spouse?s sole property.
Children from a prior relationship are also a big motivator for many people to get a prenuptial agreement, as many parents will want to protect any assets or funds the children might inherit. A prenuptial agreement can define what property will belong solely to that spouse and his or her specified beneficiaries.
What Cannot Be Included In A Prenuptial Agreement
While a prenuptial agreement can avoid many of the ?classic? disputes people think of during a divorce, a prenuptial agreement cannot determine a party?s obligation for child support. Child support belongs to the child, and the child alone, and as such, public policy in Illinois indicates that it cannot be contracted in advance or given away by a parent. Because children?s financial needs change depending on their age and circumstances, it is impossible to determine ahead of time how much (if any) child support they may need by the time the couple gets divorced, which could be any number of years in the future, if it happens at all. This is the same rationale behind the policy prohibiting spouses in a divorce from entering into an Agreement that no child support will ever be owed to the other parent and/or that a child support amount cannot be modified in the future.
The same goes for custody of children. If a couple does get divorced, a judge will determine what is best for the child at that point in time.
Dividing Marital Property
Any property a person owns prior to getting married is generally considered their personal property, and it will most often be returned to them by a divorce judge even without a prenuptial agreement. To the contrary, property and assets acquired during marriage are presumed to be marital property regardless of how they are titled, and that?s where divorces can get contentious. In order to avoid such a mess, a prenuptial agreement can decide ahead of time how marital property will be divided in the event of a divorce.
Things That Are Commonly Included In Prenuptial Agreements
In addition to protecting personal property, assets, and debts, prenuptial agreements can determine the following:
- A spouse?s right to use, manage, transfer, sell, or dispose of property during marriage
- Alimony that will be paid by a spouse after divorce, including the amount and duration of payments
- A spouse?s right to ownership of death benefits from their partner?s life insurance policy
- A spouse?s requirement to create a will that will carry out the terms of the agreement; and
- Which state laws can be applied to the contract in the event of divorce.
Enforceability
A prenuptial agreement is there to give both parties peace of mind, but there are certain requirements the contracts must meet in order to be enforceable in each state. Whichever state?s marriage law you decide will apply to your prenuptial agreement, make sure the contract abides by all of that state?s requirements for prenuptial agreements. The timing and execution of a premarital agreement is also an important consideration, as an agreement made under coercion or duress will be held unenforceable by the Court.
The attorneys at?Sherer Law Offices?have been providing legal representation for divorce cases, as well as all types of family law for more than 20 years. Our?experienced divorce attorneys?will take the time to really listen to your unique situation so that they can plan strategies that can best protect your best interests.?
