Prenuptial Agreement Lawyers in Columbus, Ohio

When it comes to getting married, discussing a prenuptial agreement is by far the least romantic part of the process. But in Ohio, a prenuptial agreement can be an essential part of marriage planning, especially if the two individuals involved have created solid financial foundations and assets prior to building a relationship.

Prenuptial agreements can address a variety of issues in Ohio, including:

• Alimony payments (will be reviewed by court at time of divorce)
• Property allocation
• Rights surrounding the sale, usage, or transfer of property during the marriage
• Division of assets
• Rights to gifts or inheritance
• Business management
• Death benefits

The longer a couple has to think about a prenuptial agreement, the better. At the Law Offices of Kenneth R. Kline, we recommend starting the prenup discussion as early as possible as the process can take time to prepare and be reviewed. In general, courts want both parties to have the opportunity to contemplate the seriousness of the agreement, the legal repercussions and time to review with counsel of his/her choosing.

While every state has its requirements for designing prenuptial agreements, in Ohio, prenuptial agreements are called “antenuptial agreements” and are typically filed under Ohio family laws. For a prenup to be valid in the state of Ohio, it must meet the following requirements:

• Both parties must enter into the agreement freely and voluntarily;
• Specified terms must not in any way encourage divorce;
• The contract must be entered into without coercion, fraud, or duress;
• There must be complete and accurate disclosure of the value of each party’s property;
• The agreement is reasonably fair to both parties;

In the absence of a prenuptial agreement, marital property in Ohio is divided in a manner the court deems “equitable” which is typically in half. Factors that influence the division of property include:

• Length of the marriage;
• Liabilities and assets of each party;
• Liquidity of the property being distributed; and
• Tax consequences for each spouse

Unique to the state of Ohio, prenuptial agreements are controlled by the Ohio state law and not the Uniform Prenuptial Agreement Act (UPAA) that is widely being adopted in other parts of the country.

When searching for a prenuptial agreement lawyer in Ohio, it’s important to choose someone who can remove the legal jargon and work with you one-on-one to create a contract that you and your future spouse are comfortable signing. Our goal is to be transparent and straight-forward throughout the process so that the prenup process doesn’t interfere with the positive aspects of planning a wedding.

Attorney Kline recognizes the importance of looking to the future and moving on with this step of the process as quickly as possible. He will work with you to navigate all the nuances of building a contract and ensuring you understand the specific procedures required by Ohio law. We handle each prenuptial agreement with grace, respect, and fairness.

Explore a Prenuptial Agreement with Our Columbus, Ohio Family Law Attorney

The Law Offices of Kenneth R. Kline is located in Columbus, Ohio, and proudly serves families in and around Delaware County, Grove City, Reynoldsburg, Westerville, Upper Arlington, and Franklin County. We are experienced at navigating the complexities of prenups and will help you through the process as efficiently as possible. Schedule a risk-free consultation with our team to learn more about prenuptial agreements in Ohio.