Is a postnuptial agreement as good as a prenuptial agreement?

A prenuptial agreement or prenup is a contract entered into by 2 people in anticipation of marriage and before marriage.  A postnuptial agreement is an agreement or contract entered into by people who are already married. Many courts around the country have ruled that a contract entered into after marriage is not as strong as…

Is a prenuptial agreement “ironclad?”

In short, no.  No prenuptial agreement or any contract for that matter is ironclad.  Ironclad is a word that people throw around in movies or in television because it adds drama and comes off very well on screen.  In real life, there aren’t many things that are certain or guaranteed.  In these United States of…

How much money should each contribute to a marriage?

Part of planning a prenuptial agreement is deciding, if not in writing at least orally, how expenses and bills should be paid.  There are many variations which I will list and then I will list the one I favor the most and why I think it helps to foster a healthy marriage. One spouse pays…

Rich Relatives and Prenuptial Agreements

You’re in your twenties or early thirties and you’re about to get married.  The thought of getting a prenuptial agreement crosses your mind because you’ve heard that everyone who gets married should have a prenup.  However, you quickly dismiss it because neither you or your fiance have much money to speak of.  So what’s the…

Online Prenuptial Agreement Forms

I was recently contacted by a woman who wanted me to certify that a prenuptial agreement that she filled out and printed from the internet contained all the information that would make it valid.  The prenuptial agreement, aside from the fact that it was generic and from the internet, was only 2 pages long.  I…

Money Talk Before Marriage

The New York Times recently ran an article about the 4 money talks to have before you commit in a lifelong relationship.  Specifically they suggest that you talk about (1) your financial ancestry, (2) your credit history, (3) control over money, and (4) affluence and financial goals. These 4 things (and more) is what I…

Who needs a Prenuptial Agreement?

Ideally, all couples looking to get married should at least engage in the process of getting a prenuptial agreement.  As I’ve said before, negotiating a prenuptial agreement provides a very valuable opportunity for couples to discuss their mutual financial situations, their outlook on finances and their future goals. I’m often surprised when I do estate…

Agreements on Sex in Prenups

There are not a lot of things you can’t include in a prenuptial agreement.  One of those things I talked about in previous posts were provisions regarding children.  Another one are provisions regarding sex during the marriage. I have had requests to include provisions dealing with a sex schedule for the couple.  In those cases,…

Information to bring to your prenup consultation

You’ve decided with your fiance that you both want to have a prenuptial agreement drawn up and signed before getting married.  You’ve even gone as far as each retaining separate attorneys.  You’re now ready to meet with your respective attorneys for the first time.  Please don’t go into the office empty handed because it will…