Costa Mesa Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreement Lawyer

Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreement Attorney in Costa Mesa

An experienced Costa Mesa prenuptial & postnuptial agreement lawyer can help individuals and couples address financial planning issues that may arise during or in anticipation of a marriage. Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements allow spouses to address financial rights and responsibilities before or after marriage.
Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP helps Costa Mesa clients prepare agreements tailored to their specific circumstances and goals that meet California family law standards. A basic understanding of how these agreements work can provide couples with clarity and realistic expectations for marital financial planning.

Hire a Costa Mesa Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreement Lawyer

With more than 100 years of combined litigation experience in Orange County family law, Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP is a trusted name for the preparation and review of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. The law firm’s family law practice has been recognized by Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and U.S. News & World Report.
Our attorneys use their litigation experience to pinpoint legal issues that may affect marital agreements and encourage clients to address financial planning with an informed set of expectations.

How Timing and Life Changes Can Prompt a Postnuptial Agreement

Couples in Costa Mesa might make a postnuptial agreement when life changes, such as receiving a promotion or raise, buying or selling a business, purchasing property, or if one spouse stops working. Although many marriages remain unchanged, the statistics on divorce can help explain why some people want to be clear about expectations during life changes.
In recent years, the U.S. divorce rate was 2.4 per 1,000 people, while the California rate was 5.88 per 1,000 residents. This information can help people understand how circumstances might change, and if their priorities do, how postnuptial agreements can help document new financial terms in a marriage.

Negotiated Agreement vs. Default Financial Treatment

In the absence of a marital agreement, a financial issue has a default outcome set by law. Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements replace default outcomes with negotiated financial terms defined by the spouses. A decision to use a negotiated agreement rather than the default treatment might be one that Costa Mesa couples often consider when the default outcome conflicts with a spouse’s work or personal life needs.
Negotiating an agreement rather than allowing an issue to be treated by default lets spouses present evidence of financial expectations rather than assume an outcome determined by a general rule. There can be confusion between these types of financial treatment.

How Marital Agreements Can Support Long-Term Financial Planning

Costa Mesa couples often use marital agreements to benefit from financial and other terms that can be defined and considered over long periods. A financial issue, asset, income, or responsibility can be planned for over time if the terms for that purpose are defined and known. For some, it makes sense to document expectations with a marital agreement.
For others, no agreement is needed to reduce uncertainty. Agreements can be useful for investment, savings, and business purposes, providing written clarity for long-term financial planning.

FAQs

Can a Prenuptial Agreement Address Future Business Ventures?

A prenuptial agreement might also include a provision regarding future business interests if one or both spouses contemplate starting a business or acquiring an interest in a business during the marriage. Provisions regarding future businesses might include treatment of ownership interests, income, or management.
The clearer this is drafted, the less speculation will occur if and when a future business is actually created during the marriage.

Is a Postnuptial Agreement Appropriate After a Major Asset Purchase?

A postnuptial agreement may be a good idea after the purchase of a major asset. This might include real estate purchases or investments in investment property. A postnuptial agreement could be used to address the classification of the purchased assets and the treatment of any payments, expenses, or other financial responsibilities related to them.

Do Prenuptial Agreements Affect Joint Bank Accounts in Costa Mesa, CA?

Prenuptial agreements often contain clauses regarding joint bank accounts in Costa Mesa, CA. These clauses may specify whether funds in joint accounts are considered marital property or subject to certain restrictions. This might include details on contribution requirements or account treatment in the event of a change in circumstances. Clear language in the agreement can help differentiate joint financial activity from separate financial interests in the marriage.

How Do I Know When It’s Time to Hire a Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreement Lawyer?

Hiring a trusted prenuptial and postnuptial agreement lawyer may be suitable when spouses seek clarity around their financial rights and responsibilities. This may include cases involving complex assets, prior obligations, or changing financial circumstances. Legal advice may help evaluate whether a marital agreement is suitable for the situation and assess how timing may affect the preparation, review, and documentation of financial arrangements.

Do Different Laws Apply to Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements in California?

California law applies to prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, but the legal tests that each must meet are not the same. Prenuptial agreements in California are governed by the California Family Code sections 1610 through 1617, which adopted the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act. Postnuptial agreements in California are governed by California Family Code Section 1500 and case law interpreting it. This postnuptial statute addresses the fiduciary duties spouses owe to each other after marriage.

Contact a Costa Mesa Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreement Lawyer

Marital agreements touch on significant financial concerns and related long-term planning issues within a marriage. Working with a seasoned Costa Mesa prenuptial & postnuptial agreement lawyer can help people and couples better understand how these agreements are drafted and reviewed under California law.
Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP works with clients to draft and review prenuptial and postnuptial agreements that align with their goals and financial circumstances. The discussions may examine asset structure and evaluate both income levels and future financial plans. All agreements are affected by the client’s financial circumstances. It is important to review these issues before finalizing expectations.
Book a consultation today if you are considering a marital agreement or if you have an agreement you want to review and discuss.

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Thank you Quinn and Dworakowski.”
— Aria P.

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We have been working with Quinn for the past year and he is outstanding! All of our questions have been answered all of our Issues have been Resolved in our favor! I was referred to Quinn by an acquaintance and I am grateful to her forever! He is understanding, kind, wise, a great communicator, and most importantly got my family everything we asked for and more! We are thrilled with the results working with him and his firm. I strongly recommend hiring Quinn and his firm to represent you if you want success, expert counsel and someone you can trust.”
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Quinn & Dworakowski, LLP – Costa Mesa, CA Office

Irvine Concourse 2050 Main Street, Sixth Floor, Suite 600, Irvine, CA 92614