If you and your spouse have found yourselves at a point of uncertainty in your marriage, it may be a good time to consider making a postnuptial agreement. A postnuptial agreement is a contract that designates each partner’s responsibilities and obligations. Creating such a contract may even be healthy for a marriage and not fraught with confrontation.
The following are among the issues that can be addressed by a postnuptial agreement:
- Plans for what happens should one of you die.
- Responsibilities and priorities regarding the payments of debts.
- Future goals and priorities.
- Plans for what happens should one of you become sick or otherwise infirmed.
- The allocation of earnings.
So how could such an agreement help a married couple with their relationship?
It is possible that the issues listed above are related to anxieties or resentments that have developed through the course of the marriage. Perhaps distrust between partners is now making the relationship feel very tenuous. If this is the case, a postnuptial agreement may work in a couple of different ways.
First, by simply making a good faith effort to hash out very serious financial issues, spouses can start a dialog that could bring about some clarity regarding each partner’s needs. Acting on these issues can help allay worry.
Second, if a marriage is truly headed for an end, the postnuptial agreement can set in place agreed upon tenants that could make the process of divorce proceedings move more smoothly and quickly. There will be less chance of surprises or conflict through the proceedings.
In either case, a postnuptial agreement could prove an invaluable tool for both parties as time goes on. To get more information on postnuptial agreements, you may want to contact a Texas family law attorney who could fill you in on how to get one crafted.