Finances are a major aspect of a marriage. When two people join their lives together, they also share assets, bank accounts, and more. As a result, prenuptial agreements are common. In some cases, parents feel strongly about prenuptial agreements. Parents are often protective of their children, and this can extend to finances as well. So what do you do if your future in-laws want you to sign a prenuptial agreement, but you don’t want to? Read on for more information.

What is a Prenuptial Agreement?

When people hear “prenuptial agreement,” they often picture high profile divorces. Prenups are notably stigmatized, and unnecessarily so. A prenuptial agreement is a document that declares how a couple’s assets will be divided in the event that their marriage ends due to death, divorce, or separation. While planning for these events seems like a bad way to begin a marriage, prenups in no way indicate a failed marriage or an unstable relationship. Instead, they allow both parties to feel protected, and they allow you and your spouse to get important financial conversations out of the way early on. Additionally, prenuptial agreements are not only helpful when it comes to extremely high net worth couples. Anyone with any assets they would like to protect can benefit from a prenup.

What Makes a Prenup Valid?

Because a prenuptial agreement is an important legal document, it must be created and signed under specific circumstances:

  • The document must be in writing
  • Both parties must provide full disclosure at the time of execution
  • The document must be notarized
  • The document must be fair and just for both parties
  • The agreement must be executed before the marriage
  • The agreement was not signed under coercion or duress

Can I Be Forced to Sign One?

Because a prenuptial agreement must be signed voluntarily, you cannot be forced to sign one. If a prenup is signed under coercion, duress, or manipulation, it will not be valid in the eyes of the law. If your partner’s parents want you to sign a prenuptial agreement and you do not want to, you should speak with a family law attorney to explore other options.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding prenuptial agreements, contact our firm to speak with a knowledgeable attorney.

Contact our Firm

We understand how emotional and difficult matters of family law can be. If you need the assistance of a knowledgeable attorney to help protect your right to your family, please do not hesitate to contact our experienced firm. We are eager and dedicated to helping you through this difficult time. Our personal injury specialists at Greenberg & Walden, LLC are standing by for a free initial consultation. Call us at 201-528-6928

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