PRENUPTIAL, POSTNUPTIAL & COHABITATION AGREEMENTS

  The Attorneys at Marine View Law & Escrow can:

·         Draft your agreement

·         Review a proposed agreement

·         Advise you regarding your rights in your agreement

·         Advise you as to the enforceability of your agreement

·         Negotiate the terms of an existing agreement on your behalf

Prenuptial Agreements

There are many benefits to having a prenuptial agreement. They protect the financial assets of individuals entering into a marriage by identifying separate property as separate from community property, protect inheritance rights of children from prior marriages, remove uncertainly between the parties by creating a clear understanding of what property belongs to whom, and they also can prevent the need to resort to litigation over property division, which can be costly.

Future spouses need to have adequate time before a marriage in order to review a prenuptial agreement which has been proposed. Prenuptial Agreements must be signed, finalized, and recorded with the county at least 30 days prior to the marriage. The Attorneys at  Marine View Law & Escrow can provide you with guidance and advice to create your prenuptial agreement, and ensure that it meets the requirements of  Washington State Law.

By virtue of having a prenuptial agreement, couples will have a better understanding of their financial situation and such an agreement provides an excellent opportunity to create open communication between couples regarding their finances.

Postnuptial Agreements

A postnuptial agreement is very similar to a prenuptial agreement except that it is signed after the couple has already married. Over the course of a marriage, couples may acquire assets. If any assets obtained after marriage grow considerably, couples may choose to draft a postnuptial agreement in order to protect these assets in the event of a divorce. A postnuptial agreement will account for the assets which have been accumulated to prevent any problems in the future and to create a clear understanding in case any assets need to be divided between the couple in the future.

If you and your spouse are considering a postnuptial agreement, the Attorneys at Marine View Law & Escrow can guide you through the entire process. It will be helpful for you have an attorney who can facilitate the discussions regarding the postnuptial agreement, and ensure that the postnuptial agreement is implemented accurately and effectively.

Cohabitation Agreements

Cohabitation agreements protect couples who reside together but are not married. Cohabitation agreements protect the finances, assets, and other property of each person in the relationship, in a similar fashion to prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. Couples who are not married have rights which they need to protect, and by having a cohabitation agreement, they may obtain some of the same rights and benefits of a marriage. The Washington State Registered Domestic Partnership Act became law on December 3rd 2009, and we can advise couples on the impact of this legislation.  

If you have further questions or would like an appointment to discuss the terms of an agreement, please contact Renee Roman or Darcel Lobo at (206) 878-8777, or renee@marineviewlaw.com or darcel@marineviewlaw.com.