Prenuptial Agreements

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) February 23, 2012 -- There are many issues which must be considered when entering into a marriage. While many of the decisions regarding the wedding and honeymoon may be the most exciting to make, there are others which are much more important and can potentially impact your life for years to come. One of these is whether to sign a prenuptial agreement.

It is quite common to recoil when hearing someone mention the term prenuptial agreement. After all, when entering a new marriage, who really wants to think about the prospect that it might someday end? But the unfortunate reality is that we live in a society where the divorce rate hovers around 50%, and in some cases it may be prudent to address how financial issues will be handled in the event that you become part of this statistic.

Keep in mind that prenuptial agreements are not necessarily appropriate for all marriages. It is important to evaluate the unique needs and financial situation of you and your soon-to-be spouse when making this decision.

What Issues Does a Prenuptial Agreement Address?

In many ways, marriage can be seen as an economic partnership. A prenuptial agreement is simply a contract that will help clarify how some of the more important financial issues affecting this partnership will be handled in the event that the marriage ends in death or divorce. When drafted by a skilled family law attorney, your prenuptial agreement can help you protect your premarital assets and establish how assets accumulated during the course of the marriage will be divided.

The following issues can be covered under a prenuptial agreement:

• Division of assets acquired both prior to and during the marriage
• Spousal support
• Child support
• Inheritance rights
• Financial interests associated with family businesses and premarital property
• Protecting all children in “blended families”

Who Should Sign a Prenuptial Agreement?

If both of you and your spouse are entering your first marriage, have similar financial backgrounds and assets, and do not have any children, then a prenuptial agreement is most likely unnecessary. You are essentially starting your lives together, so there is nothing to safeguard.

Prenuptial agreements make much more sense for:

• Older, more financially established couples
• Couples where one or both people have amassed sizeable assets prior to the marriage
• People entering into a second marriage, particularly if they had children from their first marriage who they want to receive their premarital assets
• Couples where there is a significant inequality between the premarital assets of the two people
• People who want to protect a large inheritance or an interest in a family business

The Importance of Hiring a Good Family Law Attorney for your Prenuptial Agreement

If you choose to sign a prenuptial agreement, it is important to work with an experienced family law attorney who can make sure that the final document achieves the desired goals of you and your spouse. A good lawyer can make sure that the interests of both spouses are being looked out for so that neither person gets taken advantage of.

You should always have the agreement looked over by an attorney before you sign it. This lawyer should only be representing you, not your spouse, to ensure that your rights and best interests are protected. Make sure you create the prenuptial agreement with enough time to have it reviewed by your lawyer. Procrastinating and leaving this task until right before your wedding day can lead to an agreement that does not accurately address the needs of you and your spouse. Ultimately, this can lead to problems down the road.

For more information on prenuptial agreements, please visit the website of Saidis, Sullivan & Rogers, serving clients in Central Pennsylvania.

http://www.SSR-Attorneys.com

adoption attorneys     attorneys drunk driving     auto injury attorneys     Brain Injury Lawyers     car accident lawyers     defense attorneys     spinal cord injury     wrongful death attorneys