Prenuptial Agreements Built for Real Life.
Marriage joins lives. It does not mean every financial question has to be left unanswered. Get clear about property, businesses, debt, investments, inheritance and financial expectations before the wedding.
A Prenup May Help Address:
- Assets owned before marriage
- Business and ownership interests
- Real estate
- Retirement and investment accounts
- Inheritance and family wealth
- Existing or future debt
- Spousal support or alimony issues
- Estate and succession planning
A Prenup Is Not Planning for Divorce. It Is Planning for Marriage.
Couples discuss where they will live, whether they want children, how they will combine households, and what they want their future to look like. Money deserves the same conversation.
Protect What You Built
Identify premarital property, investments, real estate and other assets and establish expectations for how they should be treated.
Protect the Business
Address ownership interests, appreciation, distributions, compensation and other issues that can affect a closely held business.
Create Financial Clarity
Address debt, property, financial responsibilities and long-term expectations before marriage.
You Do Not Have to Be Wealthy to Want Financial Clarity.
Prenuptial agreements can make sense in many different financial situations. The more complicated your financial life is before marriage, the more important it may be to discuss those issues before saying “I do.”
Business Owners
Address ownership interests, business growth, distributions, appreciation and future ownership.
Second Marriages
Balance a new marriage with children, existing obligations, accumulated property and estate plans.
Real Estate Owners
Clarify expectations involving homes, land, rentals, investment property and mortgage obligations.
Professionals
Address income, retirement accounts, investments, professional practices and other financial interests.
Family Wealth & Inheritance
Coordinate marital planning with inheritance, family businesses, trusts, gifts and estate-planning objectives.
Debt Concerns
Identify existing liabilities and establish expectations regarding financial obligations.
Define the Financial Rules Before You Need Them.
Separate Property
Identify property each person brings into the marriage and establish expectations for how it should be treated.
Marital Property
Address expectations involving property, income and accounts accumulated during the marriage.
Business Interests
Address ownership, appreciation, distributions and other financial issues involving a business.
Debt
Clarify existing liabilities and expectations concerning certain future financial obligations.
Support
Depending on applicable law and circumstances, agreements may address potential spousal-support or alimony rights.
Estate Planning
Coordinate marital property rights with wills, trusts, inheritance planning and succession objectives.
Start Early. Disclose. Discuss. Document.
Talk With Us
Tell us about the marriage, your assets, concerns, goals and wedding timeline.
Financial Disclosure
Identify relevant property, income, liabilities, businesses and other financial interests.
Draft & Review
Build an agreement around the financial issues that actually matter to your life.
Finalize
Work through revisions and execution with applicable legal requirements in mind.
Prenup Attorneys in Pennsylvania, West Virginia & Ohio
Prenuptial agreement law is state-specific. The Skeen Firm helps clients throughout the tri-state region evaluate, negotiate, draft and review premarital agreements.
Pennsylvania Prenuptial Agreements
Serving clients throughout Western Pennsylvania, including Washington, Butler, Beaver, Allegheny and surrounding counties.
Pennsylvania Family Law →West Virginia Prenuptial Agreements
Serving clients throughout Northern West Virginia, including Wheeling, Ohio County, Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Wetzel, Monongalia and surrounding areas.
West Virginia Family Law →Ohio Prenuptial Agreements
Serving qualifying Ohio matters throughout the broader tri-state region depending upon location and circumstances.
Ohio Family Law →Your Business May Be One of the Most Important Things to Address.
Closely held businesses can make marital financial planning more complicated. Ownership interests, appreciation, distributions, retained earnings, compensation and future growth may all deserve attention before marriage.
Ownership
Address existing ownership and expectations concerning future ownership interests.
Growth & Appreciation
Consider how increases in business value and related financial interests should be addressed.
Succession Planning
Coordinate the prenup with operating agreements, shareholder agreements and estate-planning objectives.
Prenuptial Agreement FAQs
How much does a prenup cost?
Cost depends on the complexity of the assets, financial disclosure, negotiation and drafting involved. A business-owner or high-asset agreement may require substantially more planning than a straightforward agreement. Ask us about pricing during your discovery call.
When should we start the prenup process?
Earlier is generally better. Financial disclosure, drafting, independent review, negotiations, revisions and execution can take time.
Do I need a prenup if I am not wealthy?
Wealth is only one reason people consider prenuptial agreements. Businesses, real estate, debt, children from prior relationships, inheritance, retirement assets and second marriages can all make a prenup worth discussing.
Can a prenup protect my business?
A prenuptial agreement can address business ownership and certain financial rights involving a business, subject to applicable law and the agreement's specific terms.
Can we use the same lawyer?
One attorney cannot simply act as independent counsel for two people whose interests may differ in negotiating an agreement. The appropriate process depends upon the circumstances, applicable law and ethical requirements.
Do we have to disclose our finances?
Financial disclosure can be an important issue in the enforceability of a premarital agreement. Requirements differ by state and circumstance.
Can a prenup address alimony or spousal support?
Premarital agreements may address certain support rights depending upon applicable state law and the circumstances.
Can a prenup decide child custody or child support?
Couples should not assume that a private premarital agreement can conclusively control future custody or child-support determinations. Those issues remain governed by applicable law.
What happens if we move to another state?
Moving, owning property in multiple states or having significant connections to different jurisdictions can create additional legal questions. Discuss anticipated moves and multi-state assets with your attorney.
Can the prenup process be handled virtually?
Many consultations, planning meetings, document exchanges and review sessions can be handled virtually. Execution requirements and individual circumstances may require additional arrangements.
Have the Financial Conversation Before the Wedding.
Protecting a business? Entering a second marriage? Bringing property or significant assets into the relationship? Start early enough to build an agreement around your actual life.