Family Agreements
All families have their unspoken contracts—you give each other support or space in ways that people who aren’t part of your family may not see. Many times, these private agreements are signs of respect and care.
Other agreements require a bit more formality, and that’s when families need an attorney. Our law office works with families to create legal agreements that allow you to live your life with as much peace, security, and trust as possible.
The attorneys start by helping individuals and families figure out what they need to clarify in order to feel comfortable. Next, we write agreements that bind in New York and other jurisdictions that matter in your life. If things change, we can change the agreements:
| Pre-nuptial agreements | Post-nuptial agreements | Cohabitation agreements | Parenting agreements | Enforcement |
Pre-nuptial agreements
Pre-nuptial or pre-marital agreements are those that parties enter prior to marriage. Pre-nuptial agreements provide for the division of property and address support issues in the event of divorce. They may also condition a certain distribution contingent on particular events.
These agreements allow parties to decide their own fate rather than have it determined by the application of the law of the state in which they live. That is why these agreements are referred to as "opt-out" agreements. Divorce can be costly and time-consuming. A properly drafted agreement can minimize the contentiousness commonly encountered in negotiations as well as the time and cost of a divorce.
Post-nuptial agreements
Generally, post-nuptial agreements serve the same types of purposes as pre-nuptial agreements. Spouses may enter into a post-nuptial agreement, because they failed to enter into a pre-nuptial agreement before they married. Sometimes, they may have experienced life changes and need to modify the pre-nuptial. Our office has deep and meaningful experience conforming agreements for validity in New York.
Cohabitation agreements
These agreements are for couples who do not marry, but do cohabit. Cohabitation agreements may be even more important than pre- or post-marital agreements because the law does not proscribe how unmarried couples divide property.
Parenting agreements
These are mostly for couples who are not married. Unwed parenting is more and more common, so it’s important to get everyone on the same page when it comes to the best interests of your children. Parenting agreements may also be used to help establish paternity alongside other forms of proof.
Enforcement
Sometimes, an agreement is signed and party feels it is unfair or the result of pressure or misrepresentation. We have successfully enforced agreements and modified agreements on behalf of our clients.
The agreement we write for you is as unique as your family. When you meet with our office, we can decide together what works best for you.
