Georgia Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements Blog

Protect your assets with a prenuptial agreement

Traditional marriage vows are increasingly being revised to delete the words "till death do us part." Since almost half of all marriages end in divorce, many people who have children from a prior marriage or desire to protect assets such as ownership interests in a business choose to enter into a prenuptial agreement. Approximately 40 percent of marriages include a spouse who has been married before.

All 50 states recognize prenuptial agreements. They are simply contracts between prospective spouses entered into before the marriage that identify each spouse's separate property and define each spouse's rights in the other's property, including future earnings, during and upon termination of the marriage by divorce or death. The prenuptial agreement can waive a spouse's rights to alimony and provide for the rights of children from a prior marriage. A prenuptial agreement cannot waive rights to child support but can provide for additional support.

A business owner should include provisions in the prenuptial agreement that provide for the sale of the business from one spouse to the other. If this is not practical, then provisions should be included that cover who controls the business post-divorce. For example, a spouse can retain the right to share in the profits but give up voting rights regarding the business.

A common misconception about prenuptial agreements is that they are only for the wealthy. There are reasons other than preservation of assets and income for people to use prenuptials. A spouse may desire to provide for the care and support of children or grandchildren from a prior marriage or for needy parents. A good prenuptial agreement will allow the parties to a marriage to determine division of property, such as business ownership, in the event of a divorce, instead of a judge or jury. A common provision in prenuptial agreements is the agreement to make a will or create a trust in order to provide for the support of a spouse in lieu of alimony or division of property under the divorce laws. Another common provision in prenuptials is the agreement to make a separate buy-sell agreement regarding the sale of a business in the event of a divorce. A prenuptial agreement can also provide for the obtaining of insurance for the benefit of a spouse.

There are certain technical provisions required in Georgia. For example, the agreement should be witnessed by two persons and should be recorded with the clerk of the superior court in the county where the parties reside.

In the past, Georgia courts refused to enforce prenuptial agreements. However, in 1982 the Georgia Supreme Court recognized the increased rate of divorce and ruled that prenuptial agreements were enforceable. Since then, Georgia courts have upheld prenuptial agreements if the answer to each of the following questions is "no":

1. Was the agreement obtained through fraud, duress or mistake, or through misrepresentation or nondisclosure of material facts? Each spouse should fully disclose his or her financial situation including assets and income. Financial statements for your business should also be disclosed. Each spouse should have a separate attorney who should sign a certificate stating that there has been full disclosure and each spouse understands the consequences of signing the agreement. It is advisable to enter into the agreement as far in advance of the marriage as possible. A prenuptial agreement entered into on the eve of the marriage could be subject to attack as being forced upon one spouse.

2. Is the agreement unconscionable? This means that if one side gets too greedy, a judge could throw the agreement out. Common sense should be the guide here. A spouse should not be left destitute. Also, make sure that only important items are covered in the agreement. For example, it is proper to discuss issues such as the religious training of children. It isn't a good idea to put more trivial items in, such as requirements that a spouse maintain a certain weight.

3. Have the facts and circumstances changed since the agreement was executed, so as to make its enforcement unfair and unreasonable? For example, a significant decline in the health of a spouse could cause a judge to void the agreement. Georgia courts are reluctant to enforce a premarital agreement that would force a spouse to apply for welfare. It's a good idea to review a prenuptial agreement every few years.

A prenuptial agreement may not be a very romantic subject to discuss prior to marriage. However, it is a valuable tool for the legal strategist who hopes for the best and prepares for the worst.

SOURCE: Atlanta Business Chronicle by Dan Kolber

What to cover in your prenup

Jeff Lalloway of the California Divorce and Family Law Blog posted a series of articles last year on what to include in a prenuptial agreement. Thanks to PrenuptialAgreements.org for its recent post alerting me to this series:

If you have smartly decided to get a prenuptial agreement before you marry, there are many areas you may want to cover. You can cover as few or as many of the items as you want. Some of the items may not be relevant to your situation. Be sure that if you follow the list, you will cover most of the key issues.

1. Decide how all of your debts will be handled. This includes those debts incurred before you are married and those incurred after you are married.

2. Make sure you disclose all of your assets, liabilities, sources of income, and any other potential future assets, such as gifts or inheritances.

3. Should you divorce or die, decide who will get your primary residence or any vacation  homes.

4. Determine what will happen to any assets or property you bring to your marriage. Normally, this will be separate property. But you need to agree with your soon-to-be, what will happen to any post-marriage appreciation, earnings, or proceeds of that property.

5. Figure out what will happen, if you divorce or die, to any assets or property you acquire after you get married.

If you have smartly decided to get a prenuptial agreement before you marry, there are many areas you may want to cover. You can cover as few or as many of the items as you want. Some of the items may not be relevant to your situation. Be sure that if you follow the list, you will cover most of the key issues.

1. Decide how all of your debts will be handled. This includes those debts incurred before you are married and those incurred after you are married.

2. Make sure you disclose all of your assets, liabilities, sources of income, and any other potential future assets, such as gifts or inheritances.

3. Should you divorce or die, decide who will get your primary residence or any vacation  homes.

4. Determine what will happen to any assets or property you bring to your marriage. Normally, this will be separate property. But you need to agree with your soon-to-be, what will happen to any post-marriage appreciation, earnings, or proceeds of that property.

5. Figure out what will happen, if you divorce or die, to any assets or property you acquire after you get married.

Georgia Prenuptial Agreement FAQ

What is a prenuptial agreement?
A prenuptial agreement is a contract entered into by two people who are to be married. The purpose of a Prenuptial Agreement is to set forth certain rights for each party in the event of a divorce. Sometimes provisions for property distribution upon death are included, but such provisions are better placed in a Last Will and Testament.

Why do people get prenuptial agreements?
The most common reason for a Prenuptial Agreement is to protect property that one or both parties owned before the marriage from becoming divided upon divorce.

What is an "antenuptial agreement" or a "premarital agreement"?
These are all synonyms for a Prenuptial Agreement. They all refer to the same concept, the same type of document.

Can I sign a prenuptial or post-nuptial agreement after I get married?
Yes. It would be called a "Post-Nuptial Agreement" and Georgia law does currently recognize such documents.

Does everyone getting married need a Prenuptial Agreement?
Prenuptial agreements are not for everyone. Prenuptial Agreements are generally utilized by parties who have considerable assets prior to the marriage and want to keep those assets separate or those who have been through a divorce and want to minimize the cost and time if they unfortunately go through another divorce. Without a prenuptial agreement, it is possible in certain circumstances for separate or premarital property to lose its separate quality and it can then become marital property or can be used to pay alimony.

Can a Prenuptial Agreement cover alimony?
Sometimes, Prenuptial Agreements are used to limit, establish or eliminate alimony in the event of a divorce.

Can a Prenuptial Agreement affect child custody or child support?
Generally speaking, Prenuptial Agreements do not deal with child custody or child support. Judges make the final decision on custody, and parties cannot pre-determine child support because the law regards child support as being a right for a child, and parties cannot override that right. Custody also must be determined AT THE TIME OF THE DISPUTE since no one can predict all the circumstances which will exist at the time of a custody dispute.

I already have a house and property and I want to protect it. Will a Prenuptial Agreement help?
Yes. If you own property before the marriage and you want to protect that property in the event of divorce, a well drafted and enforceable Prenuptial Agreement can make it easier for you to keep that property in the event of a divorce.

Do I need my own lawyer if my fiancé's attorney prepared a Prenuptial Agreement?
Yes. It is important to have your own counsel explain fully the proposed Agreement and the potential pitfalls that could affect you in the event of a divorce. Your attorney can suggest changes to the proposed Agreement that can dramatically affect to your benefit what happens in the event of a divorce.

Does my fiancé need their own lawyer if my attorney prepares a Prenuptial Agreement?
Yes. Not only does it make it more fair (each side has independent advice), it also makes it more enforceable since neither can later argue that they did not understand what they were signing.

Even if my spouse and I have a Prenuptial Agreement, can we change the terms later?
Yes. You can "re-up the Prenup" by having your attorney prepare an addendum to the original Agreement. After that has been properly signed and witnessed, it becomes a part of the original Agreement and will reflect the new terms you have changed.

What if my spouse and I decide, after years of marriage, that we no longer want to have the Prenuptial Agreement in effect?
Most well-written Prenuptial Agreements will contain a provision that dictates exactly how to cancel the Prenuptial Agreement so that it is no longer in effect. Further, your attorney can build in Asunset@ provisions to the original Prenuptial Agreement that provide for its automatic cancellation after an agreed-upon amount of years.

Will a Prenuptial Agreement determine how my spouse's property is distributed after his/her death?
Not unless you insist on such a provision. It is strongly recommended that you each have a Last Will and Testament to cover what happens to property upon the death of a spouse. Generally, a good Prenuptial Agreement will contain language that says that either of you are free to give or will away any property you want to the other party.

Are Prenuptial Agreements expensive?
As is in most cases, the cost is based on how long it takes your attorney to prepare the Agreement. Prenuptial Agreements take a lot of time to prepare since they are an attempt to resolve disputes which have not yet occurred and which are based upon factors which do not yet exist (changes in income, assets, the birth of children, etc.) In some limited cases, Prenuptial Agreements can be prepared on a flat fee basis. See your attorney for more complete fee and cost information.

SOURCE: DivorceNet

SOURCE FOR POST: Georgia Family Law Blog

What is a prenuptial agreement?
A prenuptial agreement is a contract entered into by two people who are to be married. The purpose of a Prenuptial Agreement is to set forth certain rights for each party in the event of a divorce. Sometimes provisions for property distribution upon death are included, but such provisions are better placed in a Last Will and Testament.

Why do people get prenuptial agreements?
The most common reason for a Prenuptial Agreement is to protect property that one or both parties owned before the marriage from becoming divided upon divorce.

What is an "antenuptial agreement" or a "premarital agreement"?
These are all synonyms for a Prenuptial Agreement. They all refer to the same concept, the same type of document.

Can I sign a prenuptial or post-nuptial agreement after I get married?
Yes. It would be called a "Post-Nuptial Agreement" and Georgia law does currently recognize such documents.

Does everyone getting married need a Prenuptial Agreement?
Prenuptial agreements are not for everyone. Prenuptial Agreements are generally utilized by parties who have considerable assets prior to the marriage and want to keep those assets separate or those who have been through a divorce and want to minimize the cost and time if they unfortunately go through another divorce. Without a prenuptial agreement, it is possible in certain circumstances for separate or premarital property to lose its separate quality and it can then become marital property or can be used to pay alimony.

Can a Prenuptial Agreement cover alimony?
Sometimes, Prenuptial Agreements are used to limit, establish or eliminate alimony in the event of a divorce.

Can a Prenuptial Agreement affect child custody or child support?
Generally speaking, Prenuptial Agreements do not deal with child custody or child support. Judges make the final decision on custody, and parties cannot pre-determine child support because the law regards child support as being a right for a child, and parties cannot override that right. Custody also must be determined AT THE TIME OF THE DISPUTE since no one can predict all the circumstances which will exist at the time of a custody dispute.

I already have a house and property and I want to protect it. Will a Prenuptial Agreement help?
Yes. If you own property before the marriage and you want to protect that property in the event of divorce, a well drafted and enforceable Prenuptial Agreement can make it easier for you to keep that property in the event of a divorce.

Do I need my own lawyer if my fiancé's attorney prepared a Prenuptial Agreement?
Yes. It is important to have your own counsel explain fully the proposed Agreement and the potential pitfalls that could affect you in the event of a divorce. Your attorney can suggest changes to the proposed Agreement that can dramatically affect to your benefit what happens in the event of a divorce.

Does my fiancé need their own lawyer if my attorney prepares a Prenuptial Agreement?
Yes. Not only does it make it more fair (each side has independent advice), it also makes it more enforceable since neither can later argue that they did not understand what they were signing.

Even if my spouse and I have a Prenuptial Agreement, can we change the terms later?
Yes. You can "re-up the Prenup" by having your attorney prepare an addendum to the original Agreement. After that has been properly signed and witnessed, it becomes a part of the original Agreement and will reflect the new terms you have changed.

What if my spouse and I decide, after years of marriage, that we no longer want to have the Prenuptial Agreement in effect?
Most well-written Prenuptial Agreements will contain a provision that dictates exactly how to cancel the Prenuptial Agreement so that it is no longer in effect. Further, your attorney can build in Asunset@ provisions to the original Prenuptial Agreement that provide for its automatic cancellation after an agreed-upon amount of years.

Will a Prenuptial Agreement determine how my spouse's property is distributed after his/her death?
Not unless you insist on such a provision. It is strongly recommended that you each have a Last Will and Testament to cover what happens to property upon the death of a spouse. Generally, a good Prenuptial Agreement will contain language that says that either of you are free to give or will away any property you want to the other party.

Are Prenuptial Agreements expensive?
As is in most cases, the cost is based on how long it takes your attorney to prepare the Agreement. Prenuptial Agreements take a lot of time to prepare since they are an attempt to resolve disputes which have not yet occurred and which are based upon factors which do not yet exist (changes in income, assets, the birth of children, etc.) In some limited cases, Prenuptial Agreements can be prepared on a flat fee basis. See your attorney for more complete fee and cost information.

SOURCE: DivorceNet

SOURCE FOR POST: Georgia Family Law Blog

Is a Prenuptial Agreement Right for You?

These steps will help you decide whether a prenuptial agreement makes sense for you.

Whether to have a prenup is as personal and unique a decision as whether to marry in the first place. Here are a couple of things you can do to figure out whether a prenup is what you need.

Consider the Pros and Cons

Before getting to the specifics of your own situation, it can be helpful to look at the general pros and cons of making a prenup. We'll look at the good news first, then a few downsides.

Prenup Benefits

Making a prenup can:

• protect your separate property
• support your estate plan
• define what property is considered marital property or community property
• reduce conflicts and save money if you divorce
• clarify special agreements between you, and
• establish procedures and ground rules for deciding future matters.

These points are discussed in more detail in What You Can (and Can't) Do With a Prenup.

In addition, creating a prenup may actually strengthen your relationship. While people often imagine that negotiating a prenup is potentially divisive, communicating about money matters can actually improve the quality of your relationship and support good communication in your marriage. Even if you don't end up signing a written agreement, just sitting down and hashing out the basics about money and property can eliminate misunderstandings that might otherwise create conflict. Remember that sooner or later you and your intended will be talking about money. If you think you can handle it, most psychologists and legal experts would tell you there's no time like the present.

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. Let's face it, a prenup is not romantic. Being engaged conjures up images of candlelit dinners and walks in the moonlight. Although marriage is a financial partnership as well as a romantic one, if you feel that discussing something as mundane as property and finances, as well as the possibility of divorce, will mar an otherwise beautiful time of your lives, you may not be candidates for a prenup.

The time may not be right. The need for a prenup is partly a question of timing. The issues covered in a prenup will probably arise sooner or later in your marriage: money management, property rights, responsibility for debts, estate planning. And if your marriage doesn't work out, you'll certainly need to deal with divorce decisions.

But making a prenup forces you to confront many of these issues now, at a time when your relationship may still be new and untested. Discussing what goes into a prenup could be unpleasant and stressful, leaving one of your with bad feelings about the relationship. (If now is not the time to make a written agreement, you may be able to make a contract after you marry (a "postnup"); but be advised that postnups have their own disadvantages, including stricter legal rules.)

State law may protect you without a prenup. The laws of your state may do a fine job of accomplishing what you want. For example, you may live in a community property state where assets owned before marriage are separate property and those accumulated during marriage are community property that is owned fifty-fifty. If this is essentially what you would want in your prenup, or maybe even better than what you expected, why go through the work of negotiating a prenup? Still, you'll want to be sure that you're not facing any special circumstances where your state law is unclear. Proceed to the next step and take a careful look at your situation.