Prenuptial Agreements New Jersey
Hearing wedding bells? Thinking of marriage? Trust us, you’re going to want a New Jersey Prenuptial Agreement Lawyer.
You’re in love! There’s been a proposal, a diamond ring, and an answer in the affirmative. There’s a wedding to plan, a honeymoon to daydream about… a new life as a married person. You’re getting married! (Congratulations!)
Not to pump the brakes and hit pause, but whether you or your betrothed come from economic means or not, a prenuptial agreement is a smart idea. (Yes, they’re not just for the wealthy— did you know prenuptial agreements can also protect you from accrued pre-marriage debt?) And a New Jersey Prenuptial Agreement Lawyer can assist you in entering a prenuptial agreement and protecting you in your marriage.
Let’s look at why a prenuptial agreement may be right for you, and how to effectuate one:
- Prenuptial agreements are on the rise in America, driven by marrying millennials. As many as 40% of people between ages 18 to 34 who intend to marry have signed a prenuptial (or “prenup”) agreement. Why? Because while everyone goes into a marriage with romantic notions and the best of intentions, 40% to 50% of marriage in the U.S. end in divorce, and a prenuptial agreement can help you avoid messy tears and ugly financial arguments if your marriage fails to last.
- Set-up initial consultations with various lawyers. Find the lawyer who is a good fit for you in temperament. Remember, a prenuptial agreement can be a sensitive topic and you want someone who not only knows the law but who works well with you emotionally.
- Discuss with your New Jersey Prenuptial Agreement Lawyer why you want a prenuptial agreement: do you come from a background with wealth, and want to make sure you protect it? Does your soon-to-be-spouse have overwhelming debt, and you want to make sure their debt doesn’t become half yours in divorce? Is your spouse pushing a prenup, and you’re hesitant? Your lawyer may also be able to guide you in how best to broach the sensitive, delicate issue of prenuptial agreements with your partner.
- You will work with your New Jersey Prenuptial Agreement Lawyer to define what specifically will be protected in your prenuptial agreement: is there a certain amount of money you wish to protect, no matter what happens? What about that family heirloom that your deceased grandmother left you in her will, or even the custody/visitation rights to a beloved pet, or your family’s business? Now is the time to protect your assets (the summer home, the vintage vinyl collection) that you don’t want to see become bargaining chips at the negotiation table of divorce; that’s the job of a prenup.
- Let’s talk debt: if there’s debt prior to the marriage, a prenup can help protect you from it. While the standard is that debt incurred during the marriage is marital debt, to be split fifty-fifty, a prenuptial agreement can be used to protect one person in the marriage from accrued marital debt (if, say, one partner has a history of reckless spending and/or debt). In that way a prenuptial agreement may be said to be worth its weight in gold. Your New Jersey Prenuptial Agreement Lawyer will work with you to handle the debt trap.
Nobody goes into a marriage thinking it will fail, of course. Our motto is Move Forward and, should, unfortunately, your marriage one day end, you will Move Forward— we’ve seen it before. The best thing you can do for your future yourself is to put in place the protections that safeguard your ability to do so. That’s the reason to get a prenuptial agreement.
Getting married? Thinking about a prenup? Call (201) 488-1161, fill out the intake form, or email a dedicated Family Law paralegal to speak with a New Jersey Prenuptial Agreement Lawyer at O’Cathain Law Group.