Agreeing While You Still Can: What a Post Nuptial Agreement Can Do For You

By Sheryl Rentz on August 18, 2010

When two people get engaged, plan out a wedding, and officially become a married couple, they often do not take into consideration the repercussions that may result from a divorce. For many couples, the mere mentioning of a pre-marital agreement can be rather offsetting, particularly if its mentioning comes at an inopportune time. However, even if a pre-marital agreement was not decided upon prior to saying “I do,” a post-nuptial agreement can always be drawn up after the wedding.

Like a pre-nuptial agreement, post-nuptial agreements are legally binding contracts that stipulate the allocation of goods or assets in the event a marriage ends in divorce. These agreements should not be considered evidence of bad things to come, but as safeguards in the event that a marriage unforeseeably must come to an end. Post-nuptial agreements protect property acquired prior to and during marriage, assets and monetary accounts that a couple does not want to be considered communal, and can even stipulate power of attorney in the event of harm befalling one or both married individuals. If a couple is contemplating having children together, a post-nuptial agreement can also stipulate custody arrangements and other matters pertaining to those children. (However, it should be realized that in family court, the best interests of a child are always given top priority, and all decisions made regarding children are at the discretion of the court.)

Having any type of legal documentation drawn up should best be accomplished with the assistance of an attorney who has experience dealing with such matters. At the Law Offices of Sheryl R. Rentz, our Pennsylvania family law attorneys can assist individuals with a variety of legal matters pertaining to protecting one’s assets, including post-nuptial agreements, pre-marital agreements, and even co-habitation agreements. For more information and a free consultation, please call our offices today at 610-645-0100.