Premarital and Post-marital Agreements

Orange County Prenuptial Agreement Lawyer

Helping Spouses Protect their Property Interests

Because California is a community property state, prenuptial agreements are a popular way to set the terms of a marriage. You may use such an agreement, or a postnuptial agreement, to provide structure for your financial relationship. This can include protecting certain types of property from being included as marital property. At the Law Offices of John A. Balent, our attorney has created many prenuptial agreements for our clients. Contact the Law Offices of John A. Balent to find out if a prenuptial agreement is right for you.

Premarital Contracts

There are two types of premarital contracts: simple and complex. Simple contracts reinforce the law that already exists. Complex prenuptial and post nuptial agreements convert earnings or assets into separate property. The advantages of a prenuptial agreement are numerous.

• If you own a family business, you may keep your business's assets and debts as separate property
• You know exactly how your property will be divided in the event of a separation or divorce.
• You can protect yourself from a debt (and the interests on a debt) that your spouse acquired
• You can use a pre- or post-nuptial agreement to arrange for custody and inheritance rights of your stepchildren.

A Word of Caution about Legal Forms

There are a lot of "do it yourself" legal forms on the Internet and elsewhere. Unfortunately, a generic prenuptial form may not give you the protection that you need. If you sign one, and get divorced, you may discover that you signed away more than you intended. If you want to create a pre- or post-nuptial contract, or have been asked to sign one, seek a lawyer's help. We can draft, review, and negotiate your contract. We can tailor it to meet your specific needs. We also make sure that it is fair to you and your family while keeping your interests intact.

Contact an Orange County prenuptial agreement lawyer for a free consultation.