Why Hire a Lawyer for a Prenuptial Agreement?

It seems like a simple concept: get a pre-packaged or online form for a premarital contract, sit down with your fiancé (fiancée) to work out the details, fill it out, and sign it. Then on to discussions of the important details of a wedding: flowers, the number of attendants, renting the hall…

Why slow down the process or call a lawyer when you know what you want to accomplish with your prenuptial agreement? Our attorneys will give you honest answers to your questions about prenuptial agreements. As lawyers in Los Angeles County they have extensive experience (over twenty years) not only in drafting and negotiating prenuptial agreements but in helping clients repair defective prenuptial agreements and representing clients during disputes over terms of marital contracts. If you have a reason to sign a prenup you should be sure you understand what protections it does or doesn't offer. Consider the following points:

• California community property law is complex, and even state-specific forms often fail to comply with current legal requirements.
• The success or failure of a prenuptial agreement lies in the details. You may have a false sense of security concerning the protection your self-written agreement offers.
• A prenuptial agreement is only valid if it is accompanied by full disclosure of each person's assets and income—an honest mistake or omission might render the document useless.
• The court has discretion in deciding whether or not to enforce a prenuptial agreement, and will base its decision on a number of factors not dealt with in package forms.
• Terms of a marital agreement or domestic partnership agreement must be reasonable and reached without duress or fraud. When each signer has his or her own lawyer it is much more likely the court will accept a prenuptial agreement as valid.

At Stolar & Associates our Los Angeles lawyers are committed to helping our clients build strong families. We never lose sight of that goal. If you would like to speak with one of our attorneys before drafting your prenup, partnership agreement, or postmarital agreement, or if you are interested in having a prenuptial agreement lawyer review an agreement you have already prepared, to see if it will serve its intended purpose, please contact our L.A. office to make arrangements for a free consultation.