Pre- and Post-Marital Agreements
Why do you need marital agreements? Prior to marriage, it is important to protect the personal assets you bring into the marriage. This can be accomplished by drafting a clear prenuptial agreement, which can save time, expense and stress, should a divorce or separation later occur.
It is crucial for your prenuptial agreement to reflect your personal needs and goals, and it should be written clearly to prevent potential disputes. Our lawyers at Berman & Associates believe it is often easier and less expensive to address important issues before a problem arises in your marriage.
Addressing the Negative Beliefs Around Prenuptial Marital Agreements
The belief that discussing a prenuptial agreement with a future partner indicates a lack of trust or other problems with the relationship is not necessarily correct. Many loving and happily married couples go through this process with no negative effect on their relationship. We encourage you to discuss the possibility of a prenuptial agreement and to realize it is merely a tool to protect against unforeseen complications, should they arise.
What Is a Prenuptial Agreement and What Does It Do?
A prenuptial agreement allows individuals to address the division of assets, distribution of debts and allocation of spousal support prior to marriage in the event that the relationship ends.
If either spouse is part of a family-owned business, prenuptial agreements can address potential estate or inheritance issues, and are vital to asset protection. Our firm can draft a prenuptial agreement for your spouse to review, as well as review and negotiate premarital agreements drafted by your future spouse’s attorney. This way, we can ensure fairness on your behalf and amend the agreement, if necessary.
A Cohabitation Agreement for Unmarried Couples
Today, Berman & Associates represents a substantial number of clients involved in relationships that have many of the attributes of marriage without being married. These cases present special issues that would benefit from a carefully prepared agreement created prior to the development of any relationship problems.
Postnuptial Agreements for All Married Couples
Postnuptial agreements are similar to prenuptial agreements but are created after a couple marries. Postnuptial agreements become an option when a couple experiences a change in circumstances or to reduce or eliminate disputes in the event of death of one of the couple or a divorce.
Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements are particularly useful when it is the second marriage for one or both spouses. If there are children from either spouse’s previous marriage, it is helpful to have a legally binding agreement outlining inheritance rights and issues of child custody and support.
We Will Discuss Your Prenuptial or Postnuptial Needs
We will always keep your best interests in mind and can take the necessary steps to protect your assets when considering marital agreements. To discuss your situation in more detail, call Berman & Associates now at 610-565-9696 or contact us online to schedule your initial consultation.