Agreement Before Marriage

Sometimes there are areas of law about which Uniform Acts are written and adopted by the various states. Premarital Agreements is such as area of law. The NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF COMMISSIONERS ON UNIFORM STATE LAWS adopted the final version of the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act in 1983. Since that date, the act, as modified by the various states, has been adopted in the following states: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Virginia. At the heart of the act is the provision which provides that such an agreement is generally valid if it is in writing and sets forth the factors to consider if the agreement is challenged.

Montana Statutes

Short title: This part may be cited as the "Uniform Premarital Agreement Act". History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 189, L. 1987 40-2-601.

Application and construction: This part must be applied and construed to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law with respect to the subject of this part among the states enacting it. History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 189, L. 1987 40-2-602.

Definitions: As used in this part, the following definitions apply:

(1) "Premarital agreement" means an agreement between prospective spouses made in contemplation of marriage and to be effective upon marriage.

(2) "Property" means an interest, present or future, legal or equitable, vested or contingent, in real or personal property, including income and earnings. History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 189, L. 1987.40-2-603.

Formalities: A premarital agreement must be in writing and signed by both parties. It is enforceable without consideration. History: En. Sec. 4, Ch. 189, L. 1987.40-2-604.

Content:

(1) Parties to a premarital agreement may contract with respect to:

(a) the rights and obligations of each of the parties in any of the property of either or both of them, whenever and wherever acquired or located;

(b) the right to buy, sell, use, transfer, exchange, abandon, lease, consume, expend, assign, create a security interest in, mortgage, encumber, dispose of, or otherwise manage and control property;

(c) the disposition of property upon separation, marital dissolution, death, or the occurrence or nonoccurrence of any other event;

(d) the modification or elimination of spousal support;

(e) the making of a will, trust, or other arrangement to carry out the provisions of the agreement;

(f) the ownership rights in and disposition of the death benefit from a life insurance policy;

(g) the choice of law governing the construction of the agreement; and

(h) any other matter, including their personal rights and obligations, not in violation of public policy or a statute imposing a criminal penalty.

(2) The right of a child to support may not be adversely affected by a premarital agreement. History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 189, L. 1987.40-2-605.

When agreement becomes effective: A premarital agreement becomes effective upon marriage. History: En. Sec. 6, Ch. 189, L. 1987.40-2-606.

Amendment - revocation: After marriage, a premarital agreement may be amended or revoked only by a written agreement signed by both parties. The amended agreement or the revocation is enforceable without consideration. History: En. Sec. 7, Ch. 189, L. 1987.40-2-607.

Enforcement:

(1) A premarital agreement is not enforceable if the party against whom enforcement is sought proves that:

(a) that party did not execute the agreement voluntarily; or

(b) the agreement was unconscionable when it was executed and, before execution of the agreement, that party:

(i) was not provided a fair and reasonable disclosure of the property or financial obligations of the other party;

(ii) did not voluntarily and expressly waive, in writing, any right to disclosure of the property or financial obligations of the other party beyond the disclosure provided; and

(iii) did not have or reasonably could not have had an adequate knowledge of the property or financial obligations of the other party.

(2) If a provision of a premarital agreement modifies or eliminates spousal support and that modification or elimination causes one party to the agreement to be eligible for support under a program of public assistance at the time of separation or marital dissolution, a court, notwithstanding the terms of the agreement, may require the other party to provide support to the extent necessary to avoid that eligibility.

(3) An issue of unconscionability of a premarital agreement must be decided by the court as a matter of law. History: En. Sec. 8, Ch. 189, L. 1987.40-2-608.

Enforcement when marriage void: If a marriage is declared invalid, an agreement that would otherwise have been a premarital agreement is enforceable only to the extent necessary to avoid an inequitable result. History: En. Sec. 9, Ch. 189, L. 1987.40-2-609.

Limitation of actions: Any statute of limitations applicable to an action asserting a claim for relief under a premarital agreement is tolled during the marriage of the parties to the agreement. However, equitable defenses limiting the time for enforcement, including laches and estoppel, are available to either party. History: En. Sec. 10, Ch. 189, L. 1987.40-2-610.

Advantages of premarital agreements for both parties:

Avoiding Litigation Costs

Protecting against Fears of Family Members

Protecting Family Assets

Protecting Business Assets

Protection Against Creditors

Child Custody and Support Guidlines

Predetermined Disposition of Property

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Disclaimer: This law summary is not legal advice. If you are not an attorney, you should consult an attorney about serious legal matters.