A prenuptial agreement is a written contract a couple signs before getting married. It specifies what will happen to their assets if they split up. This is a smart way to protect individual assets and can also simplify divorce proceedings, if needed. Here’s what you need to know about these important legal documents.

What a Prenuptial Agreement Includes

The document typically lists all assets and debts owned by each individual entering a marriage. This could include everything from real estate, cars, and businesses to outstanding student loans. The document then specifies what each person’s share will be if they divorce—a sort of preemptive “who gets what.”

Prenuptial agreements also specify what happens to assets acquired after the marriage. For instance, a couple could agree the money each individual earns after they wed is their own personal income. Alternatively, they could agree to split all income equally; this might be relevant if one partner stays home with the kids, for instance.

Do You Need a Prenup?

Everybody will benefit from the added protection provided by a prenuptial agreement. Even if you do not have much now, it’s important to protect future acquisitions. A prenup can be updated as your situation changes, at which time it becomes a so-called “post-nuptial agreement.”

Employ a family law professional to help you and your future spouse draft a prenuptial agreement that serves both of your interests. It’s important to have an attorney take care of this, as any errors in the paperwork could make it invalid. There is no point in creating the contract if it is not legally valid and binding.

For assistance with your prenuptial agreement in the Nanuet, NY, area, look to Brown, Burgoon, & Hartnagel, P.C. These lawyers have been serving Rockland and Orange counties since 1993. In this time, they have built a reputation for personalized and trustworthy legal counsel. Whether you are negotiating child custody or have a question about divorce law, they can help. Take a look at testimonials from their clients online. To request a consultation, call (845) 624-1966.