What Is a Prenuptial and a Postnuptial Agreement?

On behalf of The Law Office of Wickersham and Bowers posted in Estate Planning on Monday September 13th, 2021.

What Is a Prenuptial and a Postnuptial Agreement?

Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements are commonly confined to the events of marriage and engagement. Though, there is a common misconception that needs to be addressed. In the olden times, these agreements were discouraged. They were thought to encourage the dissolution of relationships. However, with all the advancements in today’s world, people realize the importance of the protection of their assets for themselves and the generations to come.

Prenuptial Agreement

People considering a second marriage and having major assets can benefit greatly from a prenuptial agreement. Not only that, people who are getting married at a very old age and want to secure some of their assets for their children can make good use of prenuptial agreements.

Sorting such details before getting married can be very useful to avoid marital disputes and divorces in the future. If things are already classified as shared property and separate property before marriage, the property division is easier. This applies to divorce or the death of the significant other.

However, all the assets possessed by both partners must be fully disclosed to form an agreement. In addition, the presence of an attorney at the time of constructing a prenuptial agreement will be helpful in case one of the partners has been dishonest about their possessions.

Postnuptial Agreement

A postnuptial agreement, as opposed to a prenuptial agreement, is drafted after a couple engages in marriage. It can be useful to finalize the distribution of assets in case of sudden demise and other prominent events.

One can opt for a postnuptial agreement to secure savings and assets after a major financial crisis. For instance, the wife may want to ensure a sizeable amount of money to avoid turning into debt because of her husband. Similarly, many other reasons can be the cause of drafting a postnup between couples.

Insufficient knowledge about these legal proceedings may cause you huge losses. Therefore, having an attorney on your side in such matters is always recommended. For that reason, we are here to assist you every step of the way at Wickersham & Bowers.

Dealing with a Domestic Violence Restraining Order

On behalf of The Law Office of Wickersham and Bowers posted in Family Law on Monday September 13th, 2021

It is neither easy to be a victim of domestic violence nor is it manageable to fight a case against it all on your own. Dealing with a restraining order for domestic violence can lead to grave consequences.

Consequences of domestic violence 

  1. Deportation: You may be vulnerable to losing your legal status in the United States. 
  2. Imprisonment: It will cost you your freedom, with 1 to 3 years of jail time.
  3. Time loss: You will be required to attend a conflict and accountability program for 52 weeks.
  4. Financial loss: In some cases, you may be charged with a penalty of $10,000.
  5. Career barriers: General livelihood and career is affected as the domestic violence charges will be added to your history.
  6. Order to stay away from home: If your partner lives in the same house and is parenting a child, the court may order you to leave the house as it will interfere with the child’s upbringing.

However, there are cases in which the accusations on the individual are false. In that case, there are several ways to defend yourself.

False allegations: 

There can be different reasons why your partner would falsely accuse you of domestic violence. It can gain their benefits in the family court and help them to obtain custody of the child. However, defending yourself is your legal right. The attorney will help you conduct a background check of your partner for any history of false allegations they might have.

Self-defense 

If you want to protect yourself against any dangerous situation, you may use self-defense. However, it could be used against you in court to degrade your records. Moreover, the pressure on police to arrest the oppressor can also make them take the wrong decision at times. 

The attorney will help you find evidence of any past injury through medical history or photographs to prove that you are not the oppressor. Secondly, the complete story can also help you give an edge in the court. 

Accidental injury 

A fight can turn into an accident sometimes. Either your partner or the police can take advantage of the situation and arrest you in the case of domestic violence. However, you can defend yourself with the help of a skilled attorney. Proofs can be provided about how the whole incident happened with the help of the attorney. To know more, get in touch to book an appointment so that we can discuss your particular case in detail.