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If you are currently engaged to be married, creating a prenuptial agreement is a practical way to ensure your assets remain with you in the event that your marriage ever breaks down or your spouse dies. At our firm, Tournour Law in East Brunswick, matrimonial law attorney Frank Tournour can create a prenuptial agreement that is fair, reasonable and designed to safeguard both parties’ interests.

What Is A Prenuptial Agreement?

Prenuptial agreements – or “prenups” – are legally-binding contracts that have existed in one form or another for thousands of years. They spell out exactly how a couple’s possessions, finances, and custody rights will be distributed following the dissolution of their marriage. Prenuptials can also address the division of assets among children in the event that one spouse dies. A prenuptial agreement may be permanent, or it can be designed to end after a certain period of time, for example, after 10 years of marriage. This is known as a “sunset clause.”

Due to this country’s high divorce rate, many financial experts consider creating a prenuptial agreement to be prudent financial planning for an engaged couple. Statistics show that prenups are increasingly common throughout New Jersey and the rest of the United States. If you are interested in learning more about how a prenuptial agreement could benefit and safeguard your future as well as that of your children, East Brunswick prenuptial attorney Frank Tournour is available to answer any questions you may have. Our prenuptial agreement FAQ can provide fast answers to many common questions regarding these contracts.

What Benefits Does A Prenuptial Agreement Provide?

Although the topic of creating a prenuptial agreement may be difficult to broach, doing so will save both you and your future spouse a great deal of stress and trouble in the event of a divorce. A prenuptial agreement will ensure that your assets and those of your partner are distributed in the exact manner you have agreed to. Without such an arrangement, a state court will divide your property, determine your custody rights, establish alimony payments, and resolve other issues on which you and your spouse cannot agree. For many people, the ability to decide who gets what and keep their personal affairs private makes creating a prenuptial agreement worthwhile.

It’s not unheard of for people involved in failed marriages to see their assets end up with the children of their spouse from a previous marriage. Additionally, assets accrued over the course of a marriage – such as luxury vehicles, stocks, and gains from successful business endeavors – are subject to marital property division in the absence of a prenuptial agreement’s safeguards. For these reasons, it is important that you have a prenuptial agreement that fully protects your interests and those of any children you have. Attorney Tournour can provide the expert legal counsel you need to ensure your prenuptial agreement is fair and takes full account of your needs.

Do You Need To Hire A Prenuptial Attorney To Draft An Agreement?

It is not necessary that you have a prenuptial attorney draft your agreement, but hiring an experienced legal professional will provide you with many important benefits. First and foremost, a prenuptial attorney can ensure that your agreement effectively safeguards your interests. Even if your spouse has hired an attorney to create your prenuptial agreement, it is important that you retain the services of your own attorney to review the contract and suggest any changes that would protect you in the event of a divorce.

Hiring an attorney who is experienced in matrimonial law will also help you avoid the need to perform the extensive research involved in creating a prenuptial. Because the laws governing marriage contracts vary widely by state, many aspects of New Jersey matrimonial law are unique. A prenuptial agreement containing provisions that conflict with state law may be ruled unenforceable and thrown out by a family court judge – which would be quite a shock if you eventually needed to use it.

Frank Tournour has been certified as a matrimonial law lawyer by the New Jersey Supreme Court’s Board on Attorney Certification – a designation only conferred upon lawyers who have demonstrated sufficient levels of experience, knowledge, and skill in the practice of matrimonial law. Many attorneys practice in New Jersey, but fewer than 3% of active New Jersey attorneys hold any type of board certification.

Aren’t Prenuptial Agreements Only For The Very Wealthy?

The idea that prenuptial agreements are beneficial only to wealthy individuals is a common misconception. In general, you should consider hiring a prenuptial attorney if you:

  • Are the full or partial owner of a business
  • Possess assets such as a car, home, stocks, or pension
  • May receive a sizeable inheritance
  • Are much wealthier than your spouse
  • Have children
  • Have or plan to pursue a lucrative career, such as in medicine
  • Have family members, such as elderly parents, who require special care

Many times, people who have managed to set aside some money before their marriage are just as concerned about their finances as people who are well off. It does not matter how many assets or wealth you have before your marriage, anyone can benefit from a prenuptial agreement.

Contact A Matrimonial Law Lawyer Today

Tournour Law is committed to providing effective family law representation from our office in East Brunswick. With decades of experience in handling New Jersey matrimonial law, our attorney can ensure that your interests are fully protected. If you are considering prenuptial agreement, please contact us today by sending an email or call us at 732-913-3634 to speak with a member of our legal team. We are ready to help you.