Protect Your Future with a Pittsburgh Prenuptial Agreement Lawyer

Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreement Family Law Attorneys

Couples who are engaged to be married expect to enjoy a lifetime of happiness. No one enters a marriage expecting to be divorced one day, just as no one expects to fall ill, lose a job or experience some other unfortunate life event. Those unforeseen difficulties are precisely why prudent people have insurance — dealing with a setback in life is easier with a contingency plan. That’s where a prenuptial agreement may come in.

What Is a Prenuptial Agreement?

A prenuptial agreement (or premarital agreement) is an agreement between prospective spouses dealing with their property rights in the event of death, divorce or both. Prenuptial agreements may determine which property and debts should be divided upon divorce, which property should be excluded, which property should be excluded from the probate estate when one of the spouses dies, whether alimony should be paid upon divorce or separation and, if so, how much and for how long.

A well-designed prenuptial agreement protects the health of your marriage as well as your property and income in the event of divorce. Prenuptial agreements spell out in advance the future consequences of a separation, divorce, disability or death, and they can reduce the stress and expense incurred if any of those come to pass, giving you peace of mind in your marriage.

Pollock Begg attorneys consider the goals of your marriage and draft prenuptial agreements to promote its longevity. We’ve fostered good relationships with other local family law attorneys, and this can make the process of negotiating a prenuptial agreement both friendly and purposeful.

What Does a Prenuptial Agreement Cover?

Prenuptial agreements can be used to:

• provide for children from a previous marriage;
• show your future spouse how he or she will be taken care of if anything happens to you;
• protect a family or closely held business from being tied up in legal proceedings;
• carry out your wishes for property acquired before the marriage;
• make it easier for both parties to stay in the marriage through tough times by providing greater benefits to a surviving spouse than a divorcing spouse;
• plan for tax implications.

What Is Full and Fair disclosure?

One of the most important elements of a prenuptial agreement in Pennsylvania is known as full and fair disclosure, which is necessary to create an enforceable agreement. Prenuptial agreements may contain complete waivers of all rights incident to divorce, or they may be limited to certain assets or issues. A Pennsylvania divorce lawyer can help to choose the best options for each client’s particular circumstances.

Often the negotiation process for a prenuptial agreement brings about healthy discussion as to how a couple will manage their day-to-day finances, their financial and personal goals and their expectations for their life together. These frank conversations are exactly what is needed prior to marriage — regardless of whether a prenuptial agreement is intended.

Can a Couple Enter into a Prenuptial Agreement if They Are Already Married?

Some states, including Pennsylvania, allow spouses to enter into prenuptial agreements after they are married, commonly called postnuptial agreements. Perhaps you did not understand the benefits of a prenuptial agreement when you married or have had a change in your financial situation. Both are good reasons to create a postnuptial agreement. Often clients come to us because they have an unexpected inheritance or a business suddenly grew and now their financial situation is more complex. Creating a postnuptial agreement can take the financial complexity out of the emotional realms of your marriage and ease your minds.

Our Pittsburgh attorneys first look at the motivations you have in seeking a postnuptial agreement and how this will promote a long marital relationship. In addition to covering instances of separation or divorce, postnuptial agreements look at what will happen in the case of the death or disability of one spouse. The same considerations we take into account for prenuptial agreements come into play. Many times a postnuptial agreement is part of a comprehensive estate plan. We work with many of the top estate and trust attorneys in the city who call upon us to draft these documents as part of their plan for their clients.

A prenuptial or postnuptial agreement may be one of the most important documents you ever sign. It might affect your property rights to real estate, retirement assets, investments, vehicles, tangible personal property, debts and alimony obligations in the future. Your entire net worth could be affected by a prenuptial agreement, so it is important to ensure your agreement is carefully drafted, complete, accurate and well-considered.

Whether you have children from a previous marriage, own or are inheriting a business that will continue to increase in value, plan to marry someone significantly above or below your financial bracket or simply desire financial peace of mind in your marriage, contact Pollock Begg at 412.471.9000 to speak with a Pittsburgh prenuptial agreement lawyer to learn more about protecting your business, your family and your marriage.