What Is a Prenuptial Agreement?

You may have heard it referred to as a prenup.  It is a contract that you enter into prior to marriage that defines concerning ownership of property both before and after marriage.  No matter what the genders of the partners a prenup may or may not be right for you.

A prenuptial agreement has a wide variety of possibilities.  Commonly it includes the division of property and support of one spouse or the other in the event of a dissolution of the marriage (i.e. divorce).   In the State of Washington, the law gives individuals broad discretion to define their property rights.  Variations on prenuptial agreements include post-nuptial agreements, separate property agreements, co-habitation agreements, and separation agreements.

Prenuptial agreements are recognized, but are not always enforced.  To be valid, the agreement must be fair to both sides.  There must be full disclosure of all assets and their values before entering into the agreement.  Each party should seek separate attorney representation before signing the agreement.  The agreement must be in writing, signed and notarized.  Remember that oral prenups are not valid.

It is important to find an attorney with many decades of handling prenuptial agreements in the Seattle area.  Contact the office of Lyle Clark today at (425) 452-3092.  Have a frank and open discussion with him about the merits of this important document in your future.  Get a thorough explanation of all the elements that go into a prenuptial agreement.