The last post here on our Dallas family law blog discussed the interesting, perhaps unorthodox prenuptial agreement of one billionaire hedge fund manager whose wife received cash upon entering the marriage and annual payments throughout. Typically, a prenuptial agreement will protect assets by stipulating who will get what after a divorce. But a family law professional can in fact help craft a prenuptial agreement tailored to a Dallas couple’s individual circumstances, and you might be surprised at the options it affords in this regard.

Of course, the most basic function of a prenuptial agreement is to facilitate property division in the event that the marriage should end. When couples have already agreed upon who will get what, there is less chance of a heated dispute erupting over property and other assets. A prenuptial agreement doesn’t have to be limited to just the partners in the marriage, either; particularly when couples with children from previous marriages are blending their families, a prenuptial agreement can help ensure that the property rights of each partner’s children will be protected.

As logical as they may be, prenuptial agreements can still be a sensitive subject to address during an engagement. A legal professional can help approach the subject and keep the focus on the practical benefits to the couple while working on a prenuptial agreement draft. It’s important during this process that couples engage in a completely open and honest disclosure of assets; so important, in fact, that the agreement may be void if one partner or the other did not disclose fully. Again, a legal professional may be able to encourage transparency to a certain degree while helping to ensure nothing accidentally escapes consideration.

Dallas residents who are entering a marriage and have questions about protecting their assets and their rights may find our Dallas Prenuptial Agreement Lawyer page informative, although the information there and in this post is general in nature only and should not be interpreted as specific legal advice. A family law professional will be able to answer questions directly and help begin the process.