How To Write Your Own Premarital Agreement

Marriage is one of the few personal contracts in which your state dictates the terms—unless you create your own customized premarital agreement. Combining Nolo's legal expertise and plain-English writing, Prenuptial Agreements makes a potentially touchy subject easy to deal with while explaining how to create a valid contract. This easy-to-use book covers: whether a prenup is right for your relationship how to decide what a prenup should include how to deal with special situations, such as one spouse’s debts, business ownership, or kids from a previous marriage how to assemble a draft agreement how to turn your draft into a contract tips on negotiating and communicating This edition of Prenuptial Agreements is completely revised and updated to reflect current state laws, plus worksheets and clauses for preparing an agreement that suits your unique needs.

Engagements and weddings are certainly something to be celebrated and can easily be some of the happiest times in your life. Unfortunately, with the national divorce rate is hovering around 50 percent, happily ever after is not necessarily a guarantee. Premarital agreements help you protect your personal and financial future in the event of divorce, and while it is not the most romantic conversation, they do not have to spoil that after-engagement glow. How to Write Your Own Simple Premarital Agreement Without a Lawyer takes you through the entire process of establishing a premarital agreement, all while avoiding the uncomfortable conversations and unnecessary legal fees. You will learn why you should have a premarital agreement and what you need to consider before approaching your fianc? with the documents. Harris Interactive recently found that 36 percent of adults think prenuptials make smart financial sense and that it is strictly a business matter void of any personal accusations against the other. With this book in hand, you will discover different tips and techniques to start the prenuptial conversation without ruining the romance of your marriage. You will learn about the different types of property at stake in a marriage and the problems that could arise with your property and assets in the event of a divorce. You will also grasp the key factors you need to consider when deciding on a premarital agreement, such as if this if your first marriage, if you have children from previous marriages, or if you and your spouse are business or investment partners. We spent hundreds of hours interviewing personal finance experts and attorneys specializing in prenuptials, as well as couples who have premarital agreements and those who have written them without an attorney, giving you real-life examples of the best way to approach writing your own premarital agreement. The companion CD-ROM includes all of the forms you need to successfully write and file your premarital agreement, including how to outline your assets and liabilities, the required signature certificates, and a Ratification of Prenuptial Agreement form, as well as a sample agreement in Microsoft? Word allowing you to easily adapt it for you and your fianc?. The CD-ROM also contains the forms you would need if you have substantial assets that need to be protected. Whether you are recently engaged or quickly approaching your wedding day and are considering having a premarital agreement, How to Write Your Own Simple Premarital Agreement Without a Lawyer will help you through sail through the process without relying on an attorney.

"... describes and analyzes three types of agreements: premarital agreements, postmarital agreements, and domestic partnership agreements. A premarital agreement is a contract between prospective spouses, including same-sex couples, made in contemplation of marriage. A postmarital agreement is a contract executed by parties to an ongoing marriage and not incident to a divorce or marital separation. A domestic partnership agreement, sometimes known as a cohabitation agreement, is a contract executed by a couple whose domestic arrangements may not be state-sanctioned. However, the term also includes such an agreement executed incident to a civil union or registered domestic partnership. Generally, all of these agreements are used to define the property and support rights of the parties upon termination of the marriage or other relationship by death or dissolution. Some parties also opt to include financial obligations during the marriage or other relationship. This Portfolio does not cover separation agreements that settle property rights, spousal and child support obligations, and child custody matters incident to a separation or divorce"--Portfolio description.

Strengthen Your Relationship by Opening the Doors of Communication A prenuptial agreement is an integral part to starting your marriage off right. It can help open the doors of communication to direct your marriage toward greater understanding and financial success. And when the unexpected happens, a prenuptial agreement can go hand-in-hand with your other estate planning documents to protect you and to make sure you and your future spouse-not the government-control your property. The Complete Prenuptial Agreement Kit is your guide to constructing the agreement and relationship that you want for the rest of your life. Protect Your Assets Ensure that you get to make your own decisions about distribution and division of your property. Find the Law for Your State Each state's laws are listed, providing you with the most current information for your state. Start Your Marriage with Openness Begin your marriage with a greater understanding of each other's financial situation and a smaller chance of ending your relationship in a divorce. Provide for Your Children Guarantee that children from a previous marriage will be taken care of if you are no longer able to care for them yourself. Strengthen Your Relationship As your relationship grows, you can adapt your agreement to reflect your changing lifestyle. Write a Prenup that's Right for You Find everything you need to create and complete your own prenuptial agreement, with step-by-step instructions and samples in the text. Whether you are about to get married, or already are, use The Complete Prenuptial Agreement Kit to protect yourself, your assets and your loved ones.

Prenuptial agreements have exploded over the past 20 years, not only among celebrities, but also for all types of people who desire to protect, manage, or enhance their personal, family, or business assets against foreseen and unforeseen circumstances. Attorneys have been assigned the task of cutting through a morass of issues to create agreements that achieve the goals of their clients while meeting complex, and often subtle, legal requirements. Drafting Prenuptial Agreements is the first guidebook ever to cover this growing area of family law. Written by Gary N. Skoloff and Richard H. Singer, Jr., Skoloff and& Wolfe, Livingston NJ, and Ronald L. Brown, Editor, American Journal of Family Law, Aspen Publishers, Drafting Prenuptial Agreements presents a pragmatic approach to preparing successful agreements quickly and effectively in any situation by grouping together and identifying the common areas that need to be addressed. The authors guide you through planning the agreement and the types of issues to discuss with different clients. This thoughtful organization gives you easy access to the tools you need to clearly present the range of choices to be addressed in each type of agreement and situation. Five sample agreements create broad groupings of issues which let you quickly zero in on the concerns parties at specific stages of life and affluence are most likely to want covered by their prenuptial agreement: YOUNG-YOUNG, EQUAL ASSETSand—For young people in the early stages of promising careers, where each has some assets and wants to protect these, as well as their careers, as separate property. YOUNG-YOUNG, DISPROPORTIONATE ASSETSand—For people of middle age or younger, where one already has, or is likely to acquire, substantial assets, and wants to protect these assets as separate property, while reasonably providing for the needs of the marriage, as well as the spouse and any children upon divorce. YOUNG-OLD, DISPROPORTIONATE ASSETSand—For a couple with a large age disparity, where the older party has substantial wealth which he or she wants to preserve for his or her estate, and also wants to provide for disability or incapacity. OLD-OLD, DISPROPORTIONATE ASSETSand—For an elderly couple, where one party has substantially fewer assets than the other, yet is comfortable, and where both want to protect their separate property, provide for a comfortable lifestyle during the marriage and reasonably provide for the spouse with fewer assets upon death or divorce. OLD-OLD, EQUAL ASSETSand—For older parties with similar assets who want to protect their property as separate, yet provide an arrangement by which they can live commensurate with their resources. Drafting Prenuptial Agreements includes a CD-ROM with sample agreements and hundreds of time-saving clauses!

This ring-to-altar guide is a valentine to anyone who’s dating, contemplating marriage, living with someone, or engaged. In Prenups for Lovers, family-law attorney Arlene G. Dubin describes how prenuptial agreements stimulate communication and compromise, enhancing the prospects for a happy marriage. In addition to defending the much-maligned prenup, Ms. Dubin offers a wise and witty handbook for negotiating an agreement, including: how to pop the “P” word, and how to respond if it’s popped to you; checklists to make sure there will be no court after the courtship; real-life profiles and celebrity tidbits special sections for young people, women, entrepreneurs, and cohabitants; tips for married couples (because it’s never too late). Every bride and groom will say “I do” to prenups after reading this book.

Whether this is your first marriage or you've been married before, a premarital agreement can help direct your marriage toward greater understanding and financial stress. In fact, a premarital agreement can go hand-in-hand with a will and other estate planning measures to enable you and you and your spouse, not the government, to control you property. How to Write Your Own Premarital Agreement will help you understand and create your own premarital agreement that will legally and financially protect you, your partner and your children.

Marriage is one of the few personal contracts in which your state dictates the terms - unless you create your own customized premarital agreement.Combining Nolo's legal expertise and plain-English writing, Prenuptial Agreements makes a potentially touchy subject easy to deal with while explaining how to create a valid contract. Prenuptial Agreements provides worksheets to help you and your fiance determine what your prenup should cover, plus clauses for preparing an agreement that suits your needs.

The cake has been chosen, the reception hall reserved, and all the attire ordered. Creating a marriage contract is probably the last thing on your mind. However, by working with your spouse-to-be to design your particular marriage contract, you control the relationship and direct your future. What to Do Before "I Do" takes the potentially unromantic idea of a prenuptial agreement and makes you see its importance to your relationship. Proper planning will answer questions such as- Will your child continue to be cared for in the manner you wish if you pass away? Is your fiancé's debt your responsibility? Can your wife claim your premarital property in a divorce? People often enter marriage with only a vague understanding of their partner's financial status. Even if you decide against a prenuptial agreement, after reading this book, you will realize how important it is to go into a marriage with your eyes wide open.