Los Angeles Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreement Attorney

Assisting Clients in Marina del Rey, Venice & the Surrounding Areas

A prenuptial, or premarital, agreement (PMA) is a contract between couples contemplating marriage. Since California is a community property state, the rights and liabilities of married couples are very specific under the California family code, which treats the marital unit like a partnership with the requisite fiduciary duties.

A prenuptial agreement contracts out of the community property scheme of California and allows a husband and wife to stipulate such terms as:

• Income after marriage
• Spousal support
• Property rights
• Inheritance rights
• Debts

The effect of a PMA is to minimize the weight of the family court and case law on the consequences of divorce. PMAs also place the control back in the hands of the parties, rather than the court and the family law attorneys.

How Premarital Agreements Fit into Your Estate Plan

A PMA is best paired with a separate property trust. While the PMA is the expression of the parties’ intent to keep their assets separate, the separate property trust is that very vehicle (receptacle) of the separate assets. It ensures that they will not be divided in divorce or subject to probate if a spouse dies.

A PMA is a very technical document and can be deemed “void” if certain specific requirements in its terms and its execution are not precisely met.

What Is a Community Property Agreement?

A community property agreement and/or a marital agreement is a contract entered into by married couples who wish to define their property rights, liabilities, and responsibilities after marriage. It is utilized by those who never entered into a premarital agreement or by those who have a premarital agreement but wish to modify its terms after marriage.

How Our Firm Can Help

The Law Offices of Maria N. Jonsson, PC offers trusted legal counsel and personalized representation for individuals and couples wishing to draft or modify prenuptial agreements, postnuptial agreements, and community property agreements. With more than 15 years of legal experience, our Los Angeles prenuptial and postnuptial agreement lawyer has the resources and skill to help families create solid estate plans customized to their unique needs.