Prenuptial Agreements
Many people consider prenuptial agreements of relevance only for the likes of film and pop stars, who regularly seem to be in the news for signing such agreements. The average person may not believe they need one – and whilst it’s unlikely that you have a multi million euro fortune to protect, you may have a property and other assets that you are taking into a new relationship.
A prenuptial agreement is entered into by a couple who are intending to marry, in which they set out their rights in relation to any property, debts, income and other assets purchased together or that they have brought into a relationship. It is intended to allow the parties to protect their separate property and other assets.
The reason for this is that under current Irish law once married all assets become matrimonial assets and unless otherwise protected are thrown into a single financial pot. A prenuptial agreement is made with the intention of contracting out of this scenario so that the parties to the agreement are treated as if they have never been married.
An agreement also seeks to allow each party to protect themselves from the others’ debts, those incurred before the marriage. With the vast amount of personal debt that many individuals have today this can be even more important than protecting the family home.
It used to be the case that agreements made before marriage that attempted to influence the way in which the divorce courts allocated assets were of little value, in the eyes of the Irish Courts. However, the current opinion is that prenuptial agreements will be taken into account as one of the factors to be considered when determining financial relief on separation or divorce. The Courts will, however, consider various other factors.
Call 1890 FAMILY today for help, guidance and professional advice on your Prenuptial Agreement
With Divorce Direct, you have direct access to an experienced family lawyer who deals exclusively in family law matters. We work for you and with you to achieve the best possible terms, at the lowest possible cost.
Contact Divorce Direct on 1890 FAMILY for a free consultation about your prenuptial agreement. You can speak to a solicitor, or simply enquire online and a family law solicitor will call you back.
