Dedicated Florida Marital Agreements Attorney Provides Legal Guidance

Experienced Delray Beach lawyer drafts prenuptial and postnuptial agreements

While marriage is a union based on love and commitment, it is also a legally binding contract that comes with financial benefits and repercussions. A prenuptial agreement or postnuptial agreement provides a safeguard in case the marriage ends. At Miller Morse Law PLLC, we help Florida couples throughout Palm Beach County to make informed decisions about how their assets and debts should be handled in the event of a divorce. From our office in Delray Beach, we devote personalized attention and guidance to each client, aiming to facilitate communication and understanding between spouses.

Thoughtful attorney advises spouses before and after marriages are finalized

A prenuptial agreement is signed before marriage, while a postnuptial agreement can be made any time during a marriage. Your prenup or postnup should be tailored to the specific circumstances of your relationship and address how the end of that relationship should be handled. The agreement may include terms for:

• Property — Spouses may enter a marriage with vastly different levels of wealth. Drafting a prenup gives couples the opportunity to thoughtfully consider how separate property should be shared or divided if a divorce.
• Debts — Student loans, credit card bills and other obligations may put spouses on very different financial footing. Because any additional debt added during the marriage becomes marital debt, it can be wise to plan for debt distribution in advance.
• Alimony — Couples entering a marriage may decide whether or not alimony (also called spousal support) should be an option in a divorce. For example, the agreement may provide that a stay-at-home parent is entitled to support, or that spouses who are equal earners will not seek alimony.
• Business assets — When a premarital agreement does not exist, any assets accumulated by either spouse during a marriage become marital property. If one spouse owns a business, the business revenue could become jointly owned. A prenup can help keep business and marital finances separate.
• Children’s inheritance — If one spouse has children with another person, the prenuptial agreement may include language to protect the inheritance rights of those children. Without a provision in the agreement or in an estate plan, certain assets could be transferred to the new spouse instead of to the children.
• Misconduct — Some couples may wish to address how infidelity or other marital wrongdoing should affect the division of property or other financial assets in a divorce.

Couples with marital agreements in place may be able to avoid protracted legal battles during divorce while still maintaining respect for one another. Ultimately, a marital agreement may save a couple money, time and emotional energy. Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements cannot govern how child custody or child support will be handled, however.

Detail-oriented counselor helps spouses develop separation agreements

A married couple may decide to break up and live separately without filing for divorce. Though Florida does not offer legal separation as an alternative to divorce, Florida courts are still able to make child support, custody and alimony orders for couples who choose to live apart.

If you and your spouse decide to separate, we will work to help you find solutions for dividing marital assets and debts. A separation agreement is a legally binding document that can include rules for property division and alimony. The agreement can remain in place as long as the couple remains legally married or may be used as a template for divorce agreements if the couple decides to make the separation official with the state.

Contact a proactive Delray Beach marital agreements attorney to schedule a meeting

From the Delray Beach, Florida office of Miller Morse Law PLLC, we draft prenuptial, postnuptial and separation agreements. To schedule a consultation, call us at 561-422-4832 or contact us online. Our firm represents individuals in Palm Beach County and beyond.