Prenuptial Agreements

DC and Maryland Prenuptial Agreements Attorney

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Have you recently got engaged? If so, congratulations on this bright new beginning in your life! With all the excitement around your nuptials, you shouldn’t forget to discuss drawing up a prenuptial agreement with your beloved and one of our trusted prenuptial agreement attorneys at The Law Offices of Thomas Stahl.

While this may seem like a bad omen for your future together, our law practice sees it as being proactive about protecting your assets and avoiding future litigation should you divorce or separate. These agreements benefit both you and your soon-to-be spouse in that you both can hash out financial matters that could later destroy your marriage if never discussed and agreed upon.

Prenuptial Agreement Benefit Everyone, Not Just the Wealthy

When you hear the term “prenup,” you likely imagine famous actors and musicians going through a nasty public divorce drama. The reality is that marital agreements like these are beneficial for anyone getting married. These contracts can address debt incurred from pursuing college or determining if you will own all or part of a business you started before tying the knot. If you plan to invest in real estate or earn an income significantly more than that of your spouse, these agreements can set out parameters to protect your interests should your union not last.

What Does a Prenuptial Agreement Cover?

Prenuptial agreements frequently determine who owns what if a marriage should end in divorce. Still, it also serves even larger purposes, including unemployment issues and income brought into the marriage. Other issues that a prenup can address include:
  • Division of joint property
  • What personal assets become marital property after getting married
  • Assignment of outstanding debt liability
  • Conditions that could invalidate the agreement
  • Alimony specifications
  • Career and educational opportunity situations
  • Business succession
  • Property allocation for children from prior marriages
A prenuptial lawyer will prove invaluable when drawing up such agreements because of the law governing marital contracts. One stipulation is that you and your future spouse must disclose any and all of your assets, or you risk the prenuptial agreement being deemed invalid by a judge. The law expects such contracts to be reasonably equitable for the parties involved. Knowing if your contract meets this standard can be tricky without a knowledgeable attorney guiding you through the process.

Why DIY Prenup Agreements are a Bad Idea

You may think that paying an attorney to do some paperwork is ridiculous and opt for a do-it-yourself packet from an online legal document site. While this is one way to get it done, you should consider this process requires more than filling out a template and listing assets. The court is specific about how a prenuptial agreement gets created and how it gets drawn up and executed. Suppose it fails to meet state standards of being fair, legitimate, and voluntarily entered into without coercion. In that case, a judge could later determine it is not valid, putting all of your assets up for division when divorcing.

The only sure way to avoid this situation is to work with a highly skilled prenup lawyer. Our legal team at The Law Offices of Thomas Stahl is just a quick call away. It can set up a consultation to assist you in determining the factors you need to consider in your prenuptial contract or advise you on signing such an agreement or not.

Courts want to balance their decisions based on the child’s best interests and the constitutional rights of all parties involved regarding how they are brought up in their household. This can make the pursuit of visitation rights against a parent’s objections exceedingly complicated and emotionally exhausting for all involved. Before you seek visitation through the court, it is crucial to work with an attorney who has the family law experience necessary to position your case with the court in the best possible light.

Trust Your Prenuptial Contract Needs with Attorneys Who Understand the Law

While this is a sensitive topic that many want to avoid when planning their futures together, it is critical to discuss. Understanding each other’s expectations regarding assets, finances, and other future goals in the off chance that your marriage ends in divorce is proactive planning that can protect you both. Having an attorney to represent your best interest in these matters will ensure that any agreement you consider is fair. Contact our Firm today at (410) 696-4326 or (202) 964-7280, or reach out online and schedule a consultation today to discuss your questions and concerns regarding prenuptial agreements. Making an informed decision now can save you painful litigation in the future and give you peace of mind should you ever need to use it.

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