Preparing a prenuptial agreement with a divorce lawyer will not eliminate all of the legal stress and turbulent emotions associated with dissolving a marriage, but it can make the process much faster and easier. These documents resolve many of the property division issues which form the basis of many divorce disputes beforehand, allowing each of you to focus on negotiating other matters. Understanding how prenuptial agreements affect the divorce process will help decide whether this precaution is right for you.

How Prenuptial Agreements Impact Divorce Proceedings

A prenuptial agreement is a legal contract listing each party’s individual assets before marriage and describing how property should be divided in a divorce. Normally, these issues are the subject of extensive negotiation and may be decided by a judge when the parties can’t come to an agreement themselves. Having a prenuptial agreement in place essentially eliminates this step of the divorce process, providing the groundwork for a negotiated settlement. In fact, if you have no children and neither spouse requests support, you may be able to simply file for divorce according to the terms of your contract.

What Prenuptial Agreements Can’t Do

Prenuptial agreements are limited in scope, and can’t be used to address other crucial divorce issues. Child support amounts and child custody arrangements, for instance, can’t be decided beforehand, since they involve the rights of another party. To resolve these difficult matters, you may need a divorce lawyer to help negotiate a settlement or fight for your rights in court.
 

If your marriage is coming to an end, the divorce lawyer you choose will make all the difference. The legal team at Arnold Law Offices in Pell City, AL offers reliable, compassionate service in a wide range of family law matters, from prenuptial agreement preparation to divorce settlement negotiations. Visit their website to learn more about their services, follow the law firm on Facebook for tips and updates, or call (205) 338- 6565 to speak with a divorce lawyer and schedule a consultation.