Those who are married or about to marry should always consider how they will manage their finances together. Speaking with an attorney about the specific steps they may take now to ensure any future distribution goes properly can help them avoid future problems.
Our team of Buffalo prenuptial agreement attorneys is available to speak with you and provide you with suggestions on how to carry out a marital plan that satisfies your needs.
If you are preparing to marry, you should consider the best way to protect your assets and future family. In the state of New York, creating a prenuptial agreement that is legally sound is one way to go about it. Given that financial issues are a factor in more than half of divorce cases, a strong prenuptial agreement may even help to lessen marital conflict.
A prenuptial agreement is a very unique and personal contract. Therefore, it is advantageous to hire a seasoned matrimonial attorney who can assess all of the marriage’s potential financial and legal ramifications, as well as your particular situation.
Our Buffalo matrimonial attorneys are experienced and capable of drafting your prenuptial agreements. They have a deep understanding of New York State family and matrimonial laws and will ensure that your rights and best interests are maintained throughout the formation of your marital agreement. With many years’ worth of collective family law experience throughout our firm, Tully Rinckey brings both the dedication and experience needed to meet your current and future goals.
What is a Prenuptial Agreement?
A prenuptial agreement, often referred to as a “prenup,” is made prior to marriage when a couple is ready to start a new chapter in their lives, and it takes effect once the couple gets married. Prenuptial agreements are crucial for couples who wish to protect themselves and plan for the future, despite the negative connotations that are frequently attached to them.
New York is known as an “equitable distribution state.” In the event of a divorce, the court will often decide how to divide the property in a way that it deems to be equitable to both parties. However, having a prenuptial agreement relieves the court of many tasks. Instead, having a plan in place ahead of time ensures that the assets are distributed equitably according to your previous agreement.
It is important to note, however, that prenuptial agreements cannot address matters relating to child support or custody issues.
What Should You Include in Your Prenuptial Agreement?
You can alter a prenuptial agreement to fit your unique circumstances. Prenuptial agreements frequently address the following issues:
Property rights and ownership of property acquired during the marriage
Entitlement (or lack thereof) to a prior or current estate/inheritance
Assignment of pre-marital assets
Inheritance rights of children
Spousal maintenance determination
Waiving of rights to spousal maintenance, equitable distribution, or counsel fees in cases of divorce or separation
A prenuptial agreement is unable to waive a couple’s rights to child custody or maintenance. The needs and best interests of the child are always taken into account when determining child custody, maintenance, and visitation.
Similar to other contracts, there are formal requirements that must be met in order for a contract to be recognized by the courts as valid and enforceable. Due to the complexities, it is strongly advised that you work with a prenup lawyer who may be able to analyze your agreement and ascertain its legality.
Issues That Will Invalidate Your Prenuptial Agreement
While prenuptial agreements are enforceable once signed, there are some issues that could arise after signing that could invalidate your agreement. Below are a few of the most common reasons why a court may invalidate a prenuptial agreement.
Fraud: When their agreement is established, each spouse must disclose all of their assets in full. In order to avoid being included in any settlement in the event of a divorce, a partner may undervalue their assets or try to hide them. The prenuptial agreement is deemed void if you can demonstrate that your spouse did not fully disclose their assets. The same might be said regarding disclosing debt. If you learn that your spouse has more debt than what is specified in the agreement, this could cause the agreement to be thrown out.
Coercion: The prenuptial agreement may be declared invalid by the court if one of the spouses was coerced into signing it. The other spouse, their attorney, or other family members might have coerced one spouse into signing the agreement. Even though it can be challenging to prove, it is not unheard of for a judge to declare a premarital agreement invalid in the presence of a witness.
Filing Issues: The prenuptial agreement needs to be written and filed in accordance with state regulations. It must be prepared and submitted in a specific manner, just like any other legal document, in order for it to be considered lawful. If you can prove that the prenuptial agreement was filed incorrectly or is incredibly unbalanced, it may be declared void. For this reason, it is recommended to draft and submit a prenuptial agreement with the assistance of a licensed and skilled divorce/marriage lawyer.
While it’s not an exhaustive list of reasons that a court might invalidate your prenuptial agreement, knowing the cases where it will and won’t result in an invalidation can help protect your well-being should your relationship not work out.
With your financial future at stake, it might be worth working with an experienced divorce attorney who can best protect your assets and future. Our matrimonial attorneys routinely assist families across Buffalo and Western New York and have helped many individuals navigate the complexities of New York State’s marriage laws.
To schedule an initial consultation with a member from our experienced team, contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 8885294543 or info@tullylegal.com
You can also use our secure Live Chat feature to connect with us regarding your matter. Your message will be delivered to a secured firm account with a member from our team ready to assist you.
What Our Clients Are Saying:
Let me begin with my continued respect and heartfelt thanks for all you did for me when a simple divorce spiraled out of control. As wounded as I was, I was painfully aware of the emotional toll the litigation was taking on you too. It was that empathy, accompanied by your phenomenal legal skills that kept me together during what was perhaps the most traumatic chapter of my life. I hope I am able to convey an impression of the depth of gratitude I have for you.
G.H.
I retained Tully Rinckey PLLC for a child support modification, which became necessary following domestic violence incidents, my own disability as a result, and my children's increased needs. Tully Rinckey PLLC is professional, proactive and, most importantly, does not suffer fools. They focused on the legal arguments of the case and applied appellate decisions which were directly related. Most importantly to me, they took my case personally. As one who has seen many people promised the sun, moon and stars by attorneys who then treat them as a number, Tully Rinckey PLLC was invested in my case from the beginning. They were able to go directly to the heart of the matter without needing to destroy the other party. They kept the focus on my children's needs and, when the other party refused to settle and hired an attorney, Tully Rinckey PLLC went into overdrive making sure my children would get a fair hearing of the facts in court. They kept the main thing the main thing and her arguments on point. They also ensured that my disability accommodations were honored and was sensitive to the needs my disability created, which was incredibly important for my testimony. I have already recommended Tully Rinckey PLLC several times and will continue to do so.
G.H.
I was represented by Ryan McCall in both custody and support matters. Ryan did an excellent job in both, and we were successful in both. I would highly recommend to anyone in need of great representation to contact Tully Rinckey and speak to Ryan McCall.
T.C.
Thank you it was a pleasure doing business with you. Honestly, you made this experience painless. Much appreciated happy customer.
J. A.
I would like to thank you for the wonderful job Tully Rinckey PLLC did on my behalf. In an unusual circumstance where the custody of my daughter changed for a period of 6 months because of Hurricane Irene, they managed to get the entire case dismissed.
When you choose Tully Rinckey PLLC, you aren’t just assigned an attorney. Your legal matter will be cared for by our entire legal team and support staff. With offices throughout the United States, we make sure you receive legal counsel and representation you can trust.
Commitment to Our Clients
Our team-oriented philosophy encourages open and ongoing communication with every attorney, paralegal, and other support staff working with each client ensures we understand their goals. Our commitment to you means meeting your objectives, working attentively and persistently toward your success, and efficiently adjusting to your changing needs.
Ethics and Professional Responsibility
At Tully Rinckey, we work relentlessly to ensure our ethical standards and level of professionalism surpass what is expected of us by our clients and the court. Our high ethical principles call us to treat clients with respect, offer affordability to members of the communities we serve, and provide composed and dignified representation.
Full Service Legal Firm
Tully Rinckey is a full-service law firm. We handle legal issues relating to appellate law, litigation, bankruptcy, international and U.S.-based business law, family and matrimonial law, military and federal employment law, intellectual property law, and much more. We also offer a variety of services, including estate planning, security clearance representation, and congressional investigations. Regardless of your legal needs, we have the experienced counsel you need.
Our Personal Process
Contact us
Contact us to discuss your needs with a client representative and schedule a consultation with an attorney.
PREPARE FOR CONSULTATION
Your time with your attorney is important. Please use this guide to get the most out of your initial consultation.
Meet your attorney
We discuss your specific legal goals and gain important information from you to help us understand your unique situation.