HOUSTON PREMARITAL AGREEMENT LAWYERS
Prenuptial and Post-Marital Agreements
The very idea of having a premarital agreement may be distasteful to some, as if they are preparing for divorce before they are even married. Judging many instances, however, a premarital agreement allows the future spouses to determine via contract what would otherwise be left up to the law and a judge.
The law firm of Bill De La Garza & Associates, P.C. provides experienced counsel for drafting, review, negotiating and, if necessary, litigation of premarital and post-marital agreements. Based in Houston, we have drawn prenuptial agreements for clients throughout Harris County and surrounding counties in Texas. Arrange a consultation today.
Texas Marital Contract Lawyers
With more than 80 years of combined legal experience, our Houston premarital agreement attorneys can relate countless examples of how these types of agreements have protected our clients when the marriage ended. We can likewise tick off many scenarios in which a simple “prenup” would have avoided expensive, protracted and uncertain divorce litigation.
A premarital agreement (prenuptial agreement) identifies separate property that each spouse brings to the marriage, and may contain other stipulations for how assets are to be divided in the event the marriage is dissolved by divorce. Similarly, a marital agreement(post-marital agreement) can address each of these issues at any time during a marriage.
While we advise many high net worth clients, one does not have to be “rich” to benefit from a premarital agreement. There are many scenarios in which a marital contract should be considered:
- You both own significant assets and want to keep them separate.
- One of you is launching a business or high-earning career.
- You are the one marrying into wealth and don’t want to be cut off with nothing.
- This is your second marriage and you want to protect assets and inheritance for children from the first.
Our attorneys personalize your prenuptial/postnuptial agreement to your circumstances. It could address all assets or focus only on your ownership stake in a business. It might stipulate terms of alimony or a lump-sum settlement, or dictate arbitration of any disputes. The terms of such a contract are infinitely diverse, including provisions that could vary depending on the length of the marriage. While prenuptial agreement cannot be determined by contract what child support or custody will be in the event of divorce, the sky is the limit regarding agreements that can be reached toward the creative, thoughtful structuring of marital assets.
Enforcement of Marital Agreements
We work carefully to ensure that a prenuptial agreement will hold up in court. In general, it should stand if the language is unambiguous, the terms are not patently unfair and the contract is not signed under duress. (Springing a prenuptial ultimatum the night before the wedding is legally a bad idea, but it happens from time-to-time, nonetheless.)
Our lawyers have defended premarital agreements and successfully challenged them. We can also review a contract that has been presented to you and advise on whether it is in your best interests to sign it.
Call us at (281) 486-7007 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.