Prenuptial Agreements

When Are Prenuptial Agreements a Good Idea?

Rare is the person who wants to think about formal legal agreements in the months before a wedding ceremony. For many people, a prenuptial agreement may indeed be an unnecessary use of there time and financial resources. However, there are many people who should consider negotiating a premarital agreement before the wedding day.

Practical and Useful Advice From a West Orange, New Jersey Family Law Attorney

At the Law Offices of Gary J. Natale, P.C., we are known as a law firm that carefully protects our client's interests. We give clear and honest legal advice. If we think you don't need a prenup, we'll tell you so. However, if our analysis of premarital laws tells us that you and your partner should write a prenup, we will explain why you need one and help you negotiate it.

Prenuptial Agreements Are Not 100 Percent Binding

Prenuptial agreements are formal legal contracts signed by both parties to a marriage, negotiated and signed before the marriage takes place. The main purpose of a prenuptial agreement is to write down who owns what property and financial assets at the time the marriage begins. The prenuptial agreement can also assign responsibility for debts that exist at the start of the marriage.

Prenuptial agreements can become useful if the marriage ends and the parties need to divide their assets and debts. If one of the former spouses went into the marriage with a lot of assets or debt, the prenuptial agreement can save time and protect each person's interests.

Premarital agreements are most useful in marriages where one or both people:

• Are entering into a second marriage
• Have children from a previous relationship
• Own property or houses from a first marriage
• Have a lot of individual debt
• Own a business or earn income through self-employment

Get Answers to Your Questions About Prenuptial Agreements

Our West Orange law office serves clients in Essex County, Hudson County and Union County. Contact us to schedule a free initial appointment with a smart and practical lawyer.