Validity of prenuptial agreement

It is an agreement between two people who are anticipating marriage. In the document, the parties set out how they would like their debts and assets distributed in the event of death or divorce.

Requirements of validity
That each party was of sound mind when it was drafted,

Each had a thorough knowledge of the finances and assets of the other.

The document must also be voluntary for both partners; under pressure is not valid.

 Validity of Prenuptial when challenged

The courts typically uphold prenuptial agreements unless one person shows:
1.    It is likely to promote divorce
2.    It was written and signed with the intention of divorcing
3.    One party was forced into signing
4.    It was created unfairly

Issues that are typically addressed by a court if the agreement is challenged:
a. Was the agreement entered into voluntarily?
b. Did the parties have the opportunity to have it reviewed by counsel of his/her own choosing?
c. Was there full disclosure of all assets, liabilities and income?

Additional requirements for valid Prenuptial include:
•    Both parties must voluntarily execute the agreement.
•    Both parties must engage in full disclosure of their respective situations at the time the document is executed.
•    Both parties must sign the document in the presence of a notary public.

What makes it Valid?
A.    It must be in writing and signed by both parties. It is enforceable without consideration.
B.    It becomes effective on marriage of the parties.

Essential requirements that must be satisfied in order for a premarital agreement to be upheld:

a. There must be full and fair disclosure of the earnings, property, and financial obligations of the parties. A complete and comprehensive financial statement must be attached to the agreement that sets forth the parties’ earnings, property, and financial obligations.
b. Both parties should be represented by attorneys. A prenuptial agreement will likely not be enforceable if the other party did not consult with an attorney, or did not waive the right to do so in writing.
c. The agreement must not be unconscionable. An unconscionable premarital agreement is defined as an agreement that would leave a spouse as a public charge or close to it.

The agreement is not enforceable if the person against whom enforcement is sought proves either of the following:
•    The person did not execute the agreement voluntarily
•    Person was not provided a fair and reasonable disclosure of the property or financial obligations of the other party.
•    That person could not have had an adequate knowledge of the property or financial obligations of the other party.

UK Law
Pre-nups are not strictly enforceable or legally binding in the UK (England and Wales). Unlike a commercial contract one cannot sue on a pre-nup and there is always the possibility that if the marriage breaks down the court will not uphold the terms of the pre-nup.

Contents
•    Definition
•    Validity
•    When validity is challenged
•    Important element to make an agreement valid
•    Issues addressed by court

What is Prenuptial Agreement?

Prenuptial Agreement

It is also called an premarital agreement, a written contract between two people who are about to marry, setting out the terms of possession of assets, treatment of future earnings, control of the property of each, and potential division if the marriage is later dissolved.

Fairly common
These agreements are fairly common if either or both parties have substantial assets, children from a prior marriage, potential inheritances, high incomes, or have been “taken” by a previous spouse.

Content can be vary

Content can be vary widely, but commonly includes provisions for division of property and spousal support in the event of divorce or breakup of marriage.

UK law
Prenuptial agreement have not traditionally been enforced in divorce law in England. A divorce lawyer is often asked about the possibility of making a prenuptial agreement before entering into a marriage.

The normal reason for asking is that at least one of the parties to the intended marriage wishes to preserve previously acquired assets from the jurisdiction of the divorce courts. Unfortunately, the answer in almost all cases is that the jurisdiction of the divorce courts cannot be ousted in this way and that a pre-nuptial agreement is hardly worth the paper it is written on.

Why it is not the worth in English law
In order to understand why this is so one has to realise that the tradition of the English divorce courts is to look at all the assets of the marriage at the time of the divorce and to distribute and in whatever way they see fit and accordance with the perceived needs of the parties and of any children. This is done in accordance with certain principles laid down by statute and case law but nevertheless this is the basic outlook of English divorce law when it comes to regulating financial matters between the parties.

Benefits
Making a prenup can:
• Protect separate property
• Support  estate plan
• Define what property is considered marital or community property
• Reduce conflicts and save money if one divorce
• Clarify special agreements between one, and
• Establish procedures and ground rules for deciding future matters

Sunset” clause
It often has what is called a “sunset” clause. This usually means that that it becomes invalid after a certain specified time period, or after the married couple has had a child. Sunset clauses vary from state to state. If the sunset clause is ignored, the agreement is void. Some couples then construct a pre-nuptial agreement to change the terms of their marital agreement.

Requirements
It must meet these requirements to be binding.
• They must be written
• The signing of the agreement must be voluntary on behalf of both parties,
• It can be invalid if one partner fails to disclose something important, and marries under false pretenses.
• The agreement cannot be morally or ethically unconscionable.

Contents
Pre nup definition
Benefits
Requirements
Sun clause

 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of pre nuptial agreement?

A prenuptial agreement is a legal agreement entered into by an engaged couple prior to being married. It provides for an agreed upon distribution of assets if the marriage ends in divorce. A similar agreement called a postnuptial agreement is signed after a couple is already married. Domestic partners may also have a cohabitation agreement.

Not only provides for the event of a divorce
In some countries, the prenuptial agreement not only provides for the event of a divorce, but also to protect some property during the marriage, for instance in case of a bankruptcy.
Advantages
• Making a prenup may actually strengthen ones relationship,
• Communicating about money matters can actually improve the quality of one’s relationship
• Support good communication in marriage

Disadvantages of a Prenup
While there is a lot to be said for a carefully considered, clearly written prenup, there are some downsides to consider.

It’s not romantic.
Discussing what goes into a prenup could be unpleasant and stressful, leaving one with bad feelings about the relationship.

The time may not be right
Making a prenup forces one to confront many of these issues now, at a time when one’s relationship may still be new and untested.
State law may protect without an agreement
The laws of state may do a fine job of accomplishing what one want.

UK Law 
In this respect the English courts have not traditionally allowed their discretion to be fettered by pre-nuptial agreements entered into by the parties.

It allows the parties to a marriage more freedom to regulate their own financial affairs in the event of divorce.

Are they binding?
Historically, these agreements have not been binding and the Courts have been concerned to protect the financial weaker party. However, recent case law has significantly increased the weight given by the courts to prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.

Benefits of prenup agreement

Pragmatic
They are pragmatic rather than romantic. The agreement can offer a measure of comfort to both parties in a betrothed couple because the agreement spells out the division of assets in the event of divorce.

Protection against fraud
It can help to offer some protection against fraud and deception for people who have assets to protect. They can also offer a measure of protection to the spouse with less assets going into the marriage but who invest a substantial portion of their life and time into the marriage.

Protection to both parties
It can offer protection to both parties of the agreement. The person with the higher level of assets can benefit from the feeling of assurance that the other is not marrying for money.

They also benefit from the assurance that they assets have a measure of protection in case the marriage heads south.

Education can be included
Education can be included as well, so that if one is pursuing an advanced degree, that the degree is not included as a marital asset in the event of a divorce.

Healthy negotiation
These can be a healthy negotiation if both parties feel that they have been dealt with fairly Contents:

• Strength relationship

• Pragmatic

• Healthy negotiation

• Protection against fraud

• Not romantic