Family Law and Prenuptial Agreement Lawyer in Lansing, Michigan

The law firm of Sinas, Dramis, Brake, Boughton & McIntyre, P.C., established in 1951, has years of experience in both personal injury and family law litigation.  A prenuptial agreement lawyer from our firm in Lansing, Michigan can help you and your partner draft a premarital agreement.  Consulting a lawyer to help draft the agreement will ensure that the document is legally binding and will be upheld in court in the event of a divorce or death of a spouse.  With nearly half of all U.S. marriages ending in divorce, a premarital agreement, while not necessarily appropriate for everyone, may be appropriate for some couples who are concerned about their assets (especially if there is a large gap between the earning power of one party compared to the earning power of the other party), or who simply want to take an extra measure of precaution.  Contact our prenuptial agreement and family law lawyer in Lansing, Michigan today for experienced legal counsel.

What is a premarital agreement? 

A premarital agreement, also known as a prenuptial agreement or "prenup," is a binding legal contract between two people who intend to marry. The purpose of a prenuptial agreement is to protect the assets of each party, and to create clear provisions for the arrangement of property and inheritance of debts upon divorce or death of a spouse. A premarital agreement may also include provisions for child custody and child support, however, the court generally does not consider these provisions to be binding. From our offices in Michigan, a premarital agreement lawyer can assist you in drafting a contract that is agreeable to all parties involved.

Are prenuptial agreements necessary for every couple?

Prenuptial agreements may not be necessary for every couple.  There is a common misconception that prenuptial agreements are only necessary for the very wealthy, but persons with fewer assets can also benefit from an agreement.  Our prenuptial agreement and family law lawyers in Lansing, Michigan encourages you and your partner to think about creating an agreement if:

• One party owns a home, stock, or other assets that could be profitable
• One party is a business owner
• One party may be receiving an inheritance
• One party is significantly wealthier than the other
• There are children from another marriage
• One party has a large amount of debit or a history of financial instability

While it may be uncomfortable to talk about the drafting of a premarital agreement, a lawyer from our firm can further explain the benefits and importance of having a contract to protect financial assets.

What is usually included in a premarital agreement?

There are several financial and property stipulations that may be laid out in the drafting of a prenuptial agreement. All assets and debts of both parties need to be accounted for.  If assets are withheld, the court may not honor the agreement if a divorce is pursued.  Additionally, provisions are laid out for the following:

• What will happen to inheritable financial assets partners earn while married
• What will happen to assets acquired and debts incurred both before and during the marriage
• What happens in the event of the death of a spouse
• How assets should be divided between children of all previous and current unions
• Other financial aspects that our Michigan premarital agreement lawyer will discuss with you and your partner

Click here to learn more about Prenuptial Agreements

View our videos on Family Law

Back to top

Contact Our Michigan Premarital Agreement Lawyer

For an experienced family law and prenuptial agreement lawyer in Lansing, Michigan, contact our firm today.  A premarital agreement lawyer from Sinas, Dramis, Brake, Boughton & McIntyre, P.C. can help you and your partner draft an agreement that is fair and would be upheld in court in the event of the death of a spouse, or dissolution of marriage.