Prenuptial Agreement Attorneys in Wake County

Creating Premarital Agreements for Raleigh & the Triangle Residents

A prenuptial agreement (also known as a premarital agreement, or commonly as a “prenup”) is a written contract entered between two people who are planning to be married. A prenuptial agreement must be in writing and signed by both parties prior to the marriage. The agreement becomes effective upon marriage. 

Why Should I Consider a Prenuptial Agreement?

Many people think of a prenuptial agreement as a legal document that is used by a wealthy spouse to protect his/her wealth, income, or inheritance from the other spouse. People who have substantial wealth, high incomes, and/or own businesses may be more likely to desire the protection of a prenuptial agreement. However, prenuptial agreements are not just for the ultra-wealthy. In the United States today, couples often marry later in life, and they are more likely to enter into marriage with assets and/or children from a prior relationship. Anyone who has assets, income, or children that they would like to protect in the event of divorce or death may benefit from a prenuptial agreement.

The terms of a prenuptial agreement can be very broad, but generally such agreements are used to establish rights and entitlements to assets and property in the event of divorce or death and clarify financial responsibilities that the parties anticipate during marriage.

More specifically, a prenuptial agreement can be drafted to specify that:

• The separate property of each party which was acquired before the marriage (including assets, debts, and personal property) will remain separate property during and after the marriage
• The amount of alimony a party will receive, if any, upon dissolution of the marriage
• How marital property (property acquired during the marriage) will be disposed of in the event of the death of a spouse or dissolution of the marriage
• How each party will contribute to the purchase of a marital home, how it will be titled, and who will be responsible for the mortgage
• If the marital home was owned by one party prior to the marriage, that such real property remains that party’s separate property during the marriage
• How separate and marital debt will be carried or shared by the parties

People who have children from a prior relationship can use a prenuptial agreement to ensure that certain assets are distributed to their children upon their death rather than being left to a spouse who may potentially pass such assets on to stepchildren or in-law relatives.

Get started with a Raleigh prenuptial agreement lawyer at Daphne Edwards Divorce & Family Law, PC. Schedule your consultation by calling us at (919) 838-7160.