For those in Houston who are considering entering a marriage, or have concerns related to marital property, there are some legal options that can help. A prenuptial agreement can be one of these options because it determines what will occur if the couple should later separate and divorce. The agreement also seeks to protect the assets of a spouse if they are significantly wealthier than the other person.
However, prenuptial agreements are sometimes at the center of major disputes. In an unfortunate incident that recently occurred, a woman claimed that her husband kept her chained up and sexually assaulted her over a period of two days. When law enforcement found the 37-year-old pregnant woman injured inside of her home in San Jose, California, her husband was arrested. Initially, the 74-year-old husband, a real estate magnate in Silicon Valley, was accused of assaulting his wife. However, a judge recently dismissed all the charges due to a lack of evidence.
The husband claimed that this incident was fraudulent and the pregnant woman intended to work her way around their prenuptial agreement. The terms of the agreement are unknown as well as the evidence that law enforcement had collected. The judge, in his statement, appeared to agree with the husband’s argument but provided no details that explain his sentiments.
For anyone thinking about drafting a prenuptial agreement, it is a good idea to do some research. These contracts can be complicated and if there are items left out, it can cause issues if the couple later decides to divorce. An experienced attorney may be of benefit in drafting a marital agreement that is agreeable to both parties.
Source: Houston Chronicle, “No trial for magnate accused of assaulting wife,” Aug. 26, 2013
