The United States is home to nearly 2 million marriages. When love is in the air, engagement rings are on your finger, and wedding dates are set, the last thing you ever want to think about is your marriage not working out.
People don’t go into marriages with plans of filing for divorce, but divorces are still quite common. If you run into the unfortunate circumstance of ending your marriage, you’ll thank yourself that you took time to hammer out an ironclad prenup.
There are some common errors with prenups that people make when they craft these agreements. Here are the main ones you need to avoid.
1. Glossing Over Prenuptial Agreement Details
Entering legal contracts is a time that you need to be more detail-oriented than ever. Many people gloss over the details of their prenup, to the point that they don’t truly know or understand what they’re signing.
Look into the many different clauses included in the agreement so that you know what you’re signing up for, what it entails, and what rights and obligations you have.
2. Not Hiring a Quality Lawyer
Many people also enter prenups without hiring lawyers that they trust and believe in. Your lawyer should be certified with the American Bar Association (ABA), and should come with plenty of detailed experience crafting prenups.
Put plenty of effort into finding the right fit for an attorney so that you and your spouse get a prenuptial agreement that you both feel good about.
3. Failing to Get a Prenup
Aside from errors when drafting a prenup, many soon-to-be newlyweds make the mistake of not getting a prenup at all. It’s fine to believe that love conquers all, but it’s still important to handle legal business for life’s most important stages.
Think of it like insurance – you hope that you never have to use it, but it’s unwise not to get it.
4. Not Understanding the Laws in Your State
Always understand your state’s laws before entering a prenup. For example, certain states require you to have a cool down period of at least a week before your prenup can be signed and put into effect.
This is in place so that the prenup is not entered into under duress. A good lawyer can advise you on the different nuances that come into play based on your state’s prenuptial agreement laws.
5. Forgetting to Consider All Provisions
It’s also important to look at the big picture when crafting a prenup. People often only think about the division of property. Prenups also cover important things like child custody details, child support, and alimony.
Know the factors that you’re dealing with and put them in writing.
6. Not Thoroughly Reading the Contract
Finally, never move forward with a prenup without thoroughly reading it. Go through it point by point and also get an independent attorney to go through it and explain to you anything that you don’t understand.
Gaining this clarity will give you the peace of mind you need when signing a prenup. Do your research to learn more about family lawyer options and to get up to speed on these areas of law.
Addressing Errors With Prenups
You’ll make your divorce process easier, less stressful, and streamlined when you avoid these common errors with prenups.
Begin with these points as you research the best divorce attorneys in your area. And as always, keep checking out our articles related to health, travel, relationships, and more.
