Avoid getting coerced into signing a prenuptial agreement
Those who enter into a corporate partnership know all too well that any business contract to be signed should first be reviewed by a legal professional representing his or her client’s best interest. The same principle should be applied when signing a prenuptial agreement here in Orange County.
Entering a marriage is a beautiful thing, but being coerced into signing a prenuptial agreement has become as common as prenuptial agreements themselves. Those who are feeling forced into signing a prenuptial agreement should take the time to reconsider before they do so. Is it advantageous to sign something that is being forced upon you? Would the person trying to force you into signing be a good person to go into business with?
Marriage is seen by many experts as a transaction similar to a business venture. It is in many ways a business arrangement between two people. Most couples forget the business aspect of marriage because love is involved, but marriage has always been viewed as a binding contract under the law. Being pushed into it and coerced into signing a prenuptial agreement raises all sorts of red flags for the marriage to come.
Prenuptial agreements have become quite popular in recent years. With many wealthy people living in the state of California, the prenuptial agreement has become a very effective tool for separating and protecting any premarital assets from being treated as marital property in the event of a divorce. Recently, an expert provided a few tips for those pondering marriage.
First, the expert advised that having a prenuptial agreement is important. Generally, the agreement will be drafted by a lawyer representing one of the future spouses. The other future spouse should always have their own legal advisor review the document, as well, prior to signing it. In order to avoid coercion or other pressures to sign, each party should feel free to ask as many questions as possible or needed until all the terms are completely understood. Heed the voice inside you that is saying no and sign only when you are completely sure that the prenuptial agreement is fair.
A well-crafted and fair prenuptial agreement is the way to go. Even if the prenuptial agreement was signed, the court may still throw it out if coercion and fraud are detected in the signing of the document.
Source: Huffington Post, “Sign This, Or Else! How Prenup Powerplays Prevail,” Susan Pease Gadoua, May 22, 2013
