Respected DC Attorney Prepares and Reviews Prenuptial Agreements

Knowledgeable Beltway area family lawyer helps clients safeguard assets

At the law office of Joel W. Anders in Washington D.C., we believe that the process of preparing a prenuptial agreement should be respectful and caring, not disheartening or cynical. Serving the DC metro area since 1978, our firm delivers trustworthy and personalized legal guidance to individuals entering into marriage. Our objective is to help you and your future spouse achieve peace of mind about financial security for yourselves and your family. We work to facilitate honest communication and thoughtful consideration, while also staunchly protecting the assets you hold most dear.

Established law firm drafts premarital contracts based on clients’ interests

A prenuptial agreement lays out how marital assets and debts will be handled if ever a couple decides to divorce. Every prenuptial agreement is different, so that it can be tailored to the circumstances of the couple involved. Topics that are commonly addressed in premarital agreements include:

• Individual debt — An agreement may outline each spouse’s responsibility for certain types of debt, such as student debt, credit card debt and business debt.
• Individual property — Real estate, retirement accounts, business interests and family heirlooms are among the property you may want to classify as your own before you enter into a marriage. A prenuptial agreement can address your current property as well as property you expect to obtain.
• Division of marital property — Property division can become one of the most contentious issues of a divorce, resulting in drawn-out legal battles. By creating an enforceable document, you can minimize the likelihood of stressful, expensive conflicts should you decide to end the marriage.
• Alimony — You and your partner may determine ahead of time that neither of you will receive spousal support if you divorce, or limit alimony to a certain amount and/or duration.
• Inheritance for children from previous marriages — If you are already a parent, you may use a prenuptial agreement to set forth estate instructions that ensure your children will receive some portion of your estate should you pass away while married.

A prenuptial agreement cannot determine child support or child custody.

When you have questions about what can and cannot be included in a prenuptial agreement, our firm is here to help.

Experienced attorney focuses on ensuring document clarity and enforceability

You may be tempted to forgo the legal process and simply sit down with your partner to draw up an informal prenuptial agreement that you can both sign. Though this might seem like the easy way out, a prenuptial agreement is only effective if it is enforceable in a court of law. Working with a qualified attorney will help you understand the importance of honest communication and legally mandated financial disclosures. It is also essential that the language included in the agreement is clear and straightforward, so that you can avert problems arising from misinterpretation.

As our client, you will receive thoughtful attention and reliable legal advice from the moment we start working together. We will create a premarital document that reflects what is most important to you and your partner as individuals and as a couple.

Contact a helpful DC metro area law firm for guidance crafting your prenuptial agreement

The law office of Joel W. Anders in Washington D.C. guides engaged clients through the creation of prenuptial agreements in the District of Columbia and Maryland. To schedule a free initial consultation with our firm’s attorney, call 202-466-4334 or contact us online.