Contracts between spouses have a more heightened requirement for fidelity, otherwise known as loyalty, than do agreements between non spouses such a prenuptial agreements. Unlike a prenuptial agreement, spousal contracts occur after the parties have pledged some kind of fidelity to one another through a ceremony or by the act of getting a civil marriage. If challenged, they are highly scrutinized by the courts to determine whether one spouse manipulated the other spouse to sign an inherently unfair agreement. Therefore they must be done properly.
The two types of spousal agreements are Post-nuptial Agreements and Separation Agreements.
Postnuptial Agreements are typically signed where one spouse cheated on the other and in order to save the marriage, the cheater conveys property or money to the innocent spouse. The risk in signing these agreements is that either spouse can turn around file for divorce without the need to return the conveyed property to the ‘marital pot’ for splitting.
Separation Agreements are typically executed where the spouses are not quite ready to divorce but want to memorialize a new living arrangement. Such agreements may contain provisions for spousal support, child support and child custody, among others. They can be converted to an uncontested divorce after a year if certain requirements are met.
The spouses should be both represented in such agreements because the risk and effort to run to court overturn them is more than just making sure you are properly represented.
If you are interested in entering a Postnuptial or Separation Agreement with your spouse or a Prenuptial Agreement with your intended, contact Diana Mohyi Attorney at Law so learn how she can assist you.