Many Brazoria County residents may think that prenuptial agreements are only for the rich and famous. On the contrary, people of many income levels can benefit from the use of a prenuptial agreement. And, prenuptial agreements have become more and more popular in recent years. The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers recently conducted a survey of divorce attorneys and 63 percent of those surveyed said that they have witnesses an increase in the use of prenups within the past several years.
The survey also showed that men are not the only ones who want to protect their assets and business interests with premarital contracts. Forty-six percent of the divorce attorneys that were surveyed said they have seen an increased interest in prenuptial agreements from women.
In Texas, prenuptial agreements allow couples to determine how they would like their property and assets to be divided in the event of divorce, rather than leaving this up to state law alone.
Prenuptial agreements can assign responsibility of debts, set out plans for alimony, and determine the ownership of property and business interests that were brought into the marriage, among other things.
Bringing up the topic of a prenuptial agreement does seem taboo for many engaged individuals. Who wants to talk about divorce during the exciting time of being engaged to marry? While it may not be a romantic topic, it is an important one to discuss for anyone who is interested in protecting their assets. Talking about prenuptial agreements can also be a good opportunity for individuals to learn about their fiancé’s finances and priorities.
In Texas, prenuptial agreements do need to meet certain legal standards in order to be enforceable. People should always work with family law attorneys to draft and negotiate prenuptial agreements in order to make sure that the contracts meet all of the necessary requirements, and to ensure that one’s best interests are addressed and protected.
Source: Huffington Post, “Prenuptial Agreements Are on the Rise, And More Women Are Requesting Them,” Oct. 22, 2013
