Prenuptial Marriage Agreement

In California, individuals can draft their prenups.Additionally, once the prenup is created, each party has at least one week to seek independent legal counsel before signing. When both parties sign the prenup, it must be signed by a notary to be valid.

Saving and Spending Strategies A prenuptial agreement should address the couple's future financial plans, including investment and retirement strategies. It should also cover how much income is to be paid into joint and/or separate bank accounts, and whether or not their will be any specific spending allowances.

A written contract. Lawful terms within the prenup. Signatures from both parties. Signed voluntarily (without coercion, intimidation, deceit or duress) Signature from a notary. At least seven days to seek independent legal counsel before signing.

Putting the Agreement in Writing. Identify the parties and the document. After titling the document something like Premarital Agreement, you want to identify the two parties by full, legal names and state that they are both willingly entering into the agreement. State the intent of marriage.

A good prenuptial agreement should be fair. It should be entered into between two consenting adults who know what they are doing. The agreement should be fair when it is signed and entered into, and also fair when it is be enforced, whether in the event of a divorce or death.

Identify and divide separate and marital assets. Identify and allocate separate and marital debts. Spousal support concerns. Special considerations if you have children from a previous marriage. Keep property in the family. Child custody, parenting time, and child support.

Be in writing. Be signed by both parties of their own free will. They cannot be under duress or be pressured into signing the prenup. Be presented with full disclosure. Be fair and reasonable. Be signed by both parties before a witness and a notary.

There is not a set price for prenup agreements. As reported by GoBankingRates, Prenup price estimates are all over the map. One California firm says the average prenuptial agreement its attorneys write costs between $2,000 and $6,000 per person. Some charge a set fee; many charge by the hour.