Los Angeles Prenup Lawyers

It is becoming increasingly common for a couple preparing for marriage to prepare a prenup—a binding contract detailing the way in which the couple's separate and community property will be distributed in the event the marriage ends through divorce, legal separation, or the death of one spouse. The degree to which a prenuptial agreement serves its intended purpose is directly related to the quality of the document.

Few lawyers in the Los Angeles area have as much experience in drafting and reviewing prenuptial contracts as Steven Stolar, lead attorney at our Los Angeles firm. In addition to over twenty years of experience in practice, Mr. Stolar holds a Master of Law degree in estate planning, providing our clients with an exceptional level of representation. If you would like to speak with Mr. Stolar or another attorney about the possible benefits of a prenup for your unique situation, please contact our Beverly Hills law office to arrange a free consultation.

Who will benefit from a prenuptial agreement?

Lawyers generally agree that not every couple needs a prenuptial agreement but that it is realistic to recognize the benefit, both from the resulting training in mutual problem-solving and financial planning and from the security provided by the prenuptial agreement. Our attorneys draft and review antenuptial contracts to serve a wide range of purposes, including the following:

• Protecting children from a previous marriage, preserving assets that without a prenuptial agreement would become part of the marital estate
• Providing partners, members, or shareholders in a closely-held business with the control necessary to manage the business in the event of death or disability of one spouse
• Defining the way in which assets accumulated before marriage, including an interest in a home or business, will be kept separate from community property or distributed in the event the marriage ends
• Defining limits to the amount and duration of alimony (spousal support) in the event of legal separation or divorce
• Establishing a way to handle future disputes over money and practical matters during the marriage
• Establishing the terms of a domestic partnership agreement

What problems arise with prenups?

A poorly worded prenuptial agreement may in part or in whole fail to provide the protection promised. Our Los Angeles lawyers have successfully had prenuptial agreements declared invalid by the court, have repaired defective prenuptial agreements, and have protected our clients against challenges to valid prenuptial agreements. If you have concerns about your existing prenuptial contract, it would be good to have it reviewed by an attorney with the appropriate experience.

When should a prenuptial agreement be drafted?

Our attorneys recommend drafting your prenuptial agreement as far in advance of your wedding as possible. Not only does this allow more time to thoughtfully work out the terms of the agreement, but an agreement signed six months before the wedding is seen by the court as a stronger contract than one signed the minimum seven days before marriage. For that reason it is critically important that, if you are negotiating a prenuptial agreement a short time before your wedding, you work with experienced legal counsel. If you would like to speak with a Los Angeles prenuptial agreement lawyer at our firm, contact our Beverly Hills office for a free consultation.