Carolyn Goodman

Attorney At Law

What You Need to Know About DC Prenuptial Agreements

By Carolyn Goodman

Understanding what a DC Prenuptial Agreement includes can be helpful in deciding if having one is right for you and your partner.

When you are planning to be married you may feel uncomfortable bringing up the topic of a Prenuptial Agreement with your partner/ fiancé. However,  if you think about this topic as part of a positive conversation related to your “financial marriage” it can be a very good discussion the two of you can have in advance or your actual marriage. This can lead to less stress during your marriage.

You have the emotional part all set – after all, you have decided to get married!

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Wedding Boom Causes an Increase in DC Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements

By Carolyn Goodman

I was recently featured in the Washington Post regarding the wedding boom in Washington, DC, and the need for more prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.

…To keep up, wedding singers are booking three ceremonies a day. Venues are scheduling receptions every day of the week, including Mondays. And attorneys are working overtime to hammer out prenuptial agreements.

“I’m getting calls saying, ‘I’m getting married in 2 weeks, how soon can we get this done?’ ” said Carolyn Goodman, a lawyer in Washington, D.C., who is seeing brisk demand for pre- and postnuptial agreements. “After two years of uncertainty, people want to have some control over their lives.”

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DC Prenuptial Agreement Lawyer: Do I Need A Prenuptial Agreement?

By Carolyn Goodman

It is not unusual to feel some stress in bringing up the idea of a Prenuptial Agreement with your partner.

Photo of DC Prenuptial Agreement and DC Postnuptial Agreement

However, if you approach a Prenuptial Agreement as a way to discuss your future financial life with your soon-to-be spouse this can help you start your married life with some basic agreements about your finances.

The process of discussing the contents of a DC Prenuptial Agreement will help you to discuss issues you may not have thought about, which can lead to less friction over finances throughout your marriage.

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DC Divorce and DC Prenuptial Agreements

By Carolyn Goodman

Enjoy listening to a recent SiriusXM radio interview in which I speak about a variety of family law issues such as DC Divorce and DC Prenuptial Agreements.

I touch on topics such as DC Uncontested Divorce, DC Contested Divorce, DC Prenuptial Agreements, and an assortment of other issues, including information about documents to have in place before you marry.

There is also a discussion about negotiating settlements rather than spending a great deal of family funds on going to court where you may lose control of the outcome of your situation.

There is also a discussion about having a Prenuptial Agreement in place so you can work out how you will deal with your family finances once you are married. In addition, the interviewer suggested that it is best to speak with a family lawyer/divorce attorney so you know what your rights are and what documents you should have.

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DC Cohabitation Agreements

By Carolyn Goodman

Do I Need a DC Family Law Attorney for a Cohabitation Agreement?

Photo of DC Cohabitation Agreements

When you decide to live with someone, it is important to think about the issues that may come up if you decide to end your relationship. In the District of Columbia, when you live with someone, your relationship can become a common law marriage and you can be considered legally married, even if you do not intend to enter into a marriage.

An Experienced DC Family Law Attorney Can Help Protect Your Assets

A DC Cohabitation Agreement can specifically state that you do not intend that your relationship be considered a marriage with all the rights that go along with a marriage, such as support, etc. In addition, you may own property separately or purchase property together with your partner and if you decide that your living situation is not working out, this can lead to disputes that can be difficult and costly to settle.

A Cohabitation Agreement or a Living Together Agreement is a contract that sets guidelines for how your property will be divided if you separate. It defines your rights as a couple. It can also expressly state that you have no intention of marrying or if you decide to marry that you will sign a Prenuptial Agreement or just void your Cohabitation Agreement.   A Cohabitation Agreement can protect your separate property and income and can protect you from your partner’s debts.

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DC Prenuptial Agreement and DC Postnuptial Agreement

By Carolyn Goodman

How Prenuptial Agreements Work in DC

Whether you call it a Prenuptial Agreement, a Prenup, or a Premarital Agreement, it is a contract between you and your future spouse that determines your financial rights and obligations if your marriage ends as a result of divorce or death.

Talking about a DC Prenuptial Agreement helps you and your fiancé openly discuss how you and your fiancé will handle your finances during your marriage.

Photo of condominium building

When Should You Get A Prenuptial Agreement in DC?

It is best to discuss these issues as far in advance of your wedding as possible. You do not want to talk about who pays for what and who will have ownership of which bank account when it is time to discuss the menu for your wedding day.

If you decide that it is too close to your wedding date to start the conversation about a Prenuptial Agreement, you can wait and agree to work on a Postnuptial Agreement. It is a similar document that is signed after you are married.

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Can I Do A Prenuptial Agreement Myself?

By Carolyn Goodman

It is best to understand what a DC Prenuptial Agreement is in order to see that it is best to have the advice of a family law attorney to assist you.

A Prenuptial Agreement is a contract between you and your future spouse that determines your financial rights and obligations if your marriage ends as a result of divorce or death. It is also a useful tool for creating a financial plan to use during your marriage.

You can make agreements regarding how to handle your finances during your marriage and create peace of mind for each of you so you can avoid disputes.

Every situation is unique and it is best to have an experienced DC family law attorney to help you through the process.

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Is A Prenup Agreement Necessary?

By Carolyn Goodman

A Guide to Prenup Agreements in DC

Whether or not to have a Prenuptial Agreement, commonly called a Prenup, is an individual decision. Sometimes people tell me their parents have asked them to have one prepared because they will be receiving a sizable inheritance one day and want it to be protected. What is clear is that a DC Prenup Agreement is not just for wealthy people or people with children from a previous marriage who are marrying again. It is commonly used by young people getting married for the first time. If your marriage does end, having a Prenuptial Agreement will help to reduce the emotional and financial strain of a divorce.

Here are a few of the top reasons you may want to have a Prenup Agreement in DC.

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Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreement Lawyer in DC

By Carolyn Goodman

Separating Property with a Washington, DC Prenuptial Agreement & Postnuptial Agreement Lawyer

Can we make an agreement that everything that we own separately will remain our separate property?

The answer is Yes. In DC postnuptial agreements and prenuptial agreements, many people base the division of property on how property is titled. Your prenup or postnuptial agreement lawyer in DC can walk you through the best property division option for you.

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DC Postnuptial Agreement or Prenuptial Agreements to Protect Inheritance

By Carolyn Goodman

How to Protect Inheritance from Divorce: Prenuptial or Postnuptial Agreements in DC

Many people call and tell me that they will be inheriting money or other property and want to protect it in the event they get divorced.

Usually inherited money or property is considered separate property and is not divided if you separate and/or divorce.

However, many times a person who inherits money or property puts that money into a new home or other property bought during the marriage.

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Questions And Answers

Your current situation has probably generated many questions. Here are some short answers to questions you may have about Divorce, Separation Agreements, Property Division, Child Custody and more.

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