Prenuptial Agreements in New York
Why You Should Protect Your Interests Before Saying “I Do”
The reality is that one in almost two first marriages will end in divorce. For second and third marriages, the divorce rate is even higher. According to legal and financial experts, having a prenuptial agreement is often a smart financial decision. A prenuptial agreement is a contract between two soon-to-be-wed people that spells out a number of important things, such as how assets will be distributed in the event of divorce or death, and many other factors, depending on your needs.
If you fall into some of the following categories, you may want to consider a prenup:
- You have premarital assets, such as real estate or pension plans you want to keep separate
- You own all or part of a business or professional practice
- You have children and/or grandchildren you want to protect
- One of you is considerably wealthier or earns more than the other
- You anticipate that you will be receiving a sizable inheritance
- You are taking care of loved ones, such as elderly parents
- You will be making sacrifices to support your spouse’s career
- You anticipate an income increase because of a business venture
- You are pursuing a career in a potentially lucrative profession
Approaching the Subject with Your Future Spouse
So how does one begin to discuss this touchy subject? It is advisable to do it as early as possible. The mention of a prenup shouldn’t come as a surprise if you and your future spouse have been open with each other throughout the relationship. By talking it over, you can let your soon-to-be spouse know that protecting property is important. We can help you.
You can offer something in exchange for the property you wish to protect. Both individuals can cover various assets and craft ways to be fair with each other. It can be arranged so that both parties get something positive out of the agreement. Second, be honest. You have to be real about why you want the prenuptial agreement. It may very well be the best way to begin a healthy marriage.
How We Can Help
If you would like to discuss the possible advantages and logistics of creating a prenuptial agreement with a New York matrimonial lawyer, we encourage you to schedule an initial consultation with the team at Lois M. Brenner, Esq. Our firm has been serving and protecting NYC families for more than 35 years, and, unlike any other divorce attorney, Lois M. Brenner is able to draw from decades of experience and use her medical expertise in interpersonal psychology to work toward the positive outcome you desire.
To learn more about prenuptial agreements, call Lois M. Brenner, Esq. today at (646) 663-4546.
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When my daughter was sideswiped and served with a summons by her husband we called Lois Brenner. I had met Lois when she was giving a seminar on Marriage and Finances. I thought she was really smart. I never dreamt I would be calling her to help my daughter. When we went to see her she put our minds at ease. We immediately knew she was the attorney for us. She managed to negotiate a really good settlement with my son-in-law’s attorney. She was tough and always returned our phone calls and responded immediately to our emails. We even heard from her on weekends!! She was determined to keep us out of court and guided us every step of the way. She was our Angel!!! Mary B.- Mary B
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My divorce was very stressful time. Since we were able to agree with my ex-husband on many important issues I originally thought that I will be able to fill in all the necessary documents by myself. It turned out that it is nearly impossible task. The amount of paperwork was overwhelming! I was not happy with some lawyers I've approached - too expensive, too impersonal, too aggressive. When I met Lois everything changed. For very reasonable price she was able to help us - talked to both of us, gave us great suggestions. Everything went extremely well. It was quick and painless. We could not thank her enough!
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I am a highly successful money manager and before meeting Lois Brenner, hiring a divorce attorney was a disaster. Two previous divorce attorneys really wasted my funds, and had no savvy when it came to asset and property distribution. Lois Brenner finally fixed the mess I was in. She and her team of financial experts, including attorney Matthew Ehrlich were able to prepare an asset and property distribution that was realistic, keeping in mind tax ramifications, and important distributions and allocations. They negotiated a thorough and financially sound divorce settlement. If you have a lot of assets, just any divorce attorney won’t do. You really need someone with a lot of knowledge. Lois Brenner and Matthew Ehrlich were really impressive. Thanks!!- Michael C.
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I had read about Lois’ unusual divorce method in one of her blog posts. It was refreshing to see someone was working with the psychological issues in divorce. My husband is bipolar and getting him to agree to a divorce and commit to the process was tough. When we met with Lois she really understood him. She immediately identified his mental health issues, and because she has a psych background, she was empathetic to his needs and was skillful at guiding him through her divorce mediation process. It took a while but she really got us to a point where we could actually discuss things without my husband blowing up. Her method is unique and it really helped in our situation. She actually recommended a great psychiatrist who changed my husband’s meds at her urging (she has a medical degree too), and my husband is coping much better. We can’t thank her enough for her compassion and advice! If you need a divorce attorney, especially if mental illness is a part of the fabric of your marriage, go see Lois! Thanks Lois - Beena T.
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Amazing, Skillful Mediator!!!! We went to see Lois Brenner for a mediation consultation. We had pretty much decided our marriage was over. We just wanted to end things fair and amicably. Lois Brenner spent so much time with us, and gave us great insight as to how the process would help us, we hired her on the spot. Our sessions thereafter were stealth. She organized us, helped us identify and address all the issues. She showed us how to communicate effectively throughout the process. We were able to address all our issues, especially property and finances, arrive at a comfortable settlement agreement, and now we are waiting for the judge to sign our divorce. What an extraordinary process. I highly recommend Lois Brenner and mediation. She’s super, and mediation really works.- Maggie & Josh