Prenuptial Agreements

Raleigh Prenuptial Agreement Attorneys

A prenuptial agreement (or “prenup”) is a written contract that two people sign before they get married. A prenup usually lists all of the property each person owns prior to marriage as well as any debts, and specifies what each person’s property rights will be after the marriage if there is a divorce. These contracts are also called premarital agreements and ante-nuptial agreements.

Another common use of a prenup is to make sure that certain property is distributed to a child from a prior marriage in case one of the parties dies during the marriage. For example, a marrying couple with children from prior marriages may use a prenup to spell out what will happen to their property when they die, so that they can pass on property to their children that they had before they got married. Without a prenuptial agreement, a surviving spouse might have the right to claim a large portion of the other spouse’s property, leaving much less for the deceased’s kids.

While some people might rely on estate documents like a Last Will and Testament to bequeath property to their children, many people forget to change their wills after remarrying, making it possible for property to end up with someone other than the deceased’s intended recipient. A prenuptial agreement can help prevent that.
Contract laws are used to deal with disagreements when someone does not comply with a premarital agreement.

Click here for frequently asked questions about prenuptial agreements.

In order to understand your rights, contact an attorney at the McNeil Law Firm to discuss your specific circumstances, your rights and your obligations. Many times entering into a prenuptial agreement is in your best interest. There are other times when your lawyer will advise against you entering into a prenuptial agreement because it is unfair to you or contains provisions that could harm you financially in the future. It is important to seek the advice of an attorney before signing a prenuptial agreement so that you fully understand what the prenuptial agreement means and so that you understand the short-term and long-term implications of what you are signing. Our lawyers have considerable experience drafting, negotiating and interpreting prenuptial agreements.

Contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation (919) 803-6778.

The information contained on this site is provided as a public service for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a comprehensive statement of the law. The reader is advised to check for changes to current law and to consult with a qualified attorney on any legal issue before taking action of any kind. The information presented on this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice or to create or imply the formation of a lawyer-client relationship between the reader and this firm.

Written By: John McNeil