Articles Posted in Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements

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An important new Florida Supreme Court decision helps clarify the applicability of waivers in prenuptial agreements. The court concluded that, if a prenuptial agreement’s terms made it clear that a spouse was waiving and releasing all rights and claims to the other spouse’s separate property, that waiver included the increase in value of those non-marital assets, even if the agreement did not expressly cover increased value, and the increase was due to marital efforts or funds.

The case brought to a conclusion the divorce dispute between H.H. (husband), a mortgage broker, and his wife, D.H. The couple married in February 1986 and remained married for 22 years. The month before their marriage, both spouses signed a prenuptial agreement. The agreement stated that, if the spouses purchased a property in both their names, the asset was presumed to be owned 50-50 between them, but if the husband purchased an asset in his own name, even during the marriage, that asset was his separate property.
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One of the more popular celebrity news stories of this spring has involved the impending divorce of renowned chef and Food Network TV star Bobby Flay, who filed to end his decade-long marriage to actress Stephanie March. According to a celebrity news website, TMZ, the couple signed a prenuptial agreement before their 2005 wedding, but the wife plans to challenge the validity of the agreement. While the dispute regarding the Flay-March prenuptial agreement will, unless settled between the spouses, be decided by a New York court, the story does raise a relevant issue for Floridians with prenuptial agreements who are contemplating divorce: namely, what are circumstances under which Florida law will prevent a prenuptial agreement’s enforcement?

Florida Statutes Section 61.07(7) sets out a list of several reasons why a prenuptial agreement can be set aside. If one of the spouses did not sign the document voluntarily, it is not enforceable. If a spouse received cash or other valuable assets in exchange for signing the prenup, that may allow for setting the agreement aside.
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In one recent Florida divorce, a trial court’s failure to give the husband a meaningful opportunity to be heard in the case, as well as the court’s improper shifting of the burden of proof from the wife to the husband regarding whether Scotland law or Florida law should govern the divorce, forced the 5th District Court of Appeal to reverse the trial court and send the case back for a new trial.

Before the former couple married in Scotland, they executed a “Minute of Agreement,” which is the approximate equivalent of a prenuptial agreement. The couple’s agreement stated that, if they divorced, the court deciding the case should use Scottish law.
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Prenuptial agreements are extremely valuable tools to establish financial boundaries and protect assets each spouse brings into the marriage. To be legal, both spouses must make a genuinely voluntary decision to sign the agreement. Forcing your future spouse to sign a prenuptial agreement in the middle of the night mere hours before your wedding is a recipe for failure, as it raises a strong inference that your spouse signed under duress, and not voluntarily. A husband discovered this in a recent case, where the 2d District Court of Appeal recently voided the couple’s prenuptial agreement, ruling that the husband’s timing raised a clear issue of coercion.

A man and his girlfriend scheduled their wedding for July 13, 2002, in Las Vegas. Less than a month before the wedding, he presented a draft of a prenuptial agreement to her. An attorney advised her not to sign, because the agreement waived her right to claim a statutory elective share, receive alimony or share in assets acquired during the marriage. Near midnight on the eve of the wedding, the man arrived at the Las Vegas airport, handed the girlfriend another copy of the agreement, and demanded she sign it and get it notarized. She complied.

When the wife filed for divorce in 2009, the husband asserted that the prenuptial agreement controlled the terms of asset distribution. The wife sought to set aside the agreement, arguing the court should void it because the husband improperly coerced her to sign it. The trial court sided with the husband, concluding that the wife waited too long to bring her claim of coercion, but the court of appeal overturned that ruling.
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A flawed prenuptial agreement has made it all the way to the highest court of New York State, with the New York Court of Appeals ruling that a flaw in formation can be deadly to a prenup’s enforcement. In a recently decided case, the court ruled against the husband (6-0) for failing to properly acknowledge his signature. Errors like this reinforce the basic contractual nature of prenuptial agreements and stress both the formalities that must be followed and the importance of contacting an experienced matrimonial attorney when making such important life decisions.Millionaire Corner, a website for the well-to-do, released a survey this April that dispelled commonly held stereotypes regarding certain gender views towards prenuptial agreements. When given the choice between five different views ranging from very pro-prenup to very anti-prenup, women identified more with pro-prenup side of the spectrum and their male counterparts identified more towards the antiquated, negative view of prenups. The most telling of these indicate that women lead men, 62% to 54%, in recommending a prenup to a couple getting married, and approximately 50% “don’t feel there are any disadvantages” to a prenuptial agreement between the parties. The same website published another survey days later showing counter-intuitive views of prenups held by older generations, with more than two-thirds of participants over the age of 61 recommending a prenuptial agreement.

Prenuptial agreements, as discussed in a previous post, can often include strange, unorthodox terms. A common specific type of prenup has earned a name among those in the industry: the love contract. Love contracts are meant to put on paper an agreement regarding how the intimate love life of the couple will be conducted. Often in these contracts the terms specify either frequency or methods of lovemaking.

Such language in a prenuptial agreement really can muddy the waters for very limited enforceability, and such obligatory scheduling of a generally spontaneous act could trivialize many portions of the relationship. Suzanne Pelka, a sex therapist, explains that it is “really this false sense of control that we have because we don’t know what’s gonna happen tomorrow.”

So, what happens when someone tries to fight such a clause? Typically these clauses are not enforceable within the marriage. Aside from demeaning the basic nature of intimacy, if a partner fails to meet the obligations outlined by the agreement, the only thing it may affect is the division of property during a divorce. These documents can not be referred to during the marriage or act as a supporting document to how the partner must act. No breach of contract cause of action can exist when it comes to “love contracts”.
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Deion Sanders, famous football hall of fame all star, has recently gone through a divorce that can teach any person going through or expecting a divorce some important lessons.Born in Fort Myers, Florida, Deion went on to become a star football and baseball player for the Florida State University. Playing football as a Seminole, Sanders was a two time All-American cornerback in 1986 and 1987. Deion Sanders then went on to play successfully for several MLB and NFL teams. He is most often identified for his football legacy with the Dallas Cowboys. Sanders also holds the all-time record for defensive and kick return touchdowns. Sanders currently works as an NFL analyst.

The divorce began and stalled shortly after. In September 2011, Pilar Sanders, Deion’s wife since 1999, was served with divorce papers from Deion. Deion eventually denied this service and claimed the divorce was nothing but a rumor. Then in December 2011, Deion admitted that he was getting divorced.

The divorce ultimately turned into a lengthy process as Pilar and her lawyer brought numerous contentions regarding their prenuptial agreement (“prenup”). The prenup gave Pilar $100,000 after signing and would give her $1 million upon divorce, however, she would be eligible for much more in absence of the agreement. Nonetheless, during the trial filed by Pilar to contend the prenup, questions on whether her initials were forged in certain sections led to a handwriting expert to be brought in and testify it was not authentic. In addition, there were rumors of abuse during the marriage and accusations of coercion and failure to disclose assets during the signing process.The judge ultimately upheld the validity of the prenup heavily relying on statements made by Pilar in 1999 when Pilar had testified in court that the prenup was fair to her.
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According to researchers at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research, a husband’s relationship with his wife’s family is a good indicator of future marriage success. A forthcoming study published in the journal Family Relations analyzed 373 married couples over a 26-year-period. At the beginning of the study, all couples were married for less than one year and each spouse was between the ages of 25 and 37. Researchers asked each member of the couple to rate how close they felt to their spouse’s family and then followed the success of each marriage over time. The study reportedly found that couples were 20 percent more likely to remain married when the husband had a good relationship with his in-laws. In addition, couples in which the wife had a good relationship with her spouse’s family were reportedly 20 percent more likely to end their marriage.

Lead study author, Dr Terri Orbuch, believes the disparity may arise from the differing ways in which men and women view themselves and their familial relationships. Orbuch said relationships are generally more important to women, so it is a positive characteristic when a man gets along with his wife’s family. For women, Orbuch stated, their role as a wife and mother tends to be very important. Orbuch believes women may become too involved in their husband’s family and fail to set boundaries. Consequently, any statements made by even a well-meaning in-law are often interpreted as meddling. Men, on the other hand, allegedly identify most with their role as a provider. According to Orbuch, husbands are simply much less likely to take the actions of their in-laws personally.

Sadly, 46 percent of the couples in the study later divorced. Although no one expects divorce to happen to them, about half of all marriages in the United States will eventually be dissolved. If you are considering marriage, you should discuss entering into a premarital agreement with your future spouse. A prenuptial agreement is a contract between the members of a couple that is signed prior to marriage. Normally, such an agreement will address how a couple’s assets will be distributed if the marriage ends. It will also describe any spousal support obligations that may arise in the event of a divorce or the death of a spouse. Entering into a premarital agreement is always a smart move. Many Florida couples who fail to enter into a prenuptial agreement before they marry later regret their decision. If you have questions about premarital agreements, you should contact a skilled family law attorney.
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An estimated quarter-million weddings are reportedly cancelled in the United States every year. In addition to heartbreak and disappointment, many would-be brides and grooms often find themselves saddled with the financial hardship of relinquishing thousands of dollars. According to a recent survey, the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. has risen to about $27,000. When a wedding is cancelled, many former couples lose the money they already spent on catering, flowers, and other wedding expenditures. In response, a new business model of selling cancelled weddings was recently created.

New companies that cater to couples who seek to save money by purchasing cancelled weddings at a discount have begun to pop up across the nation. One Virginia company, Bridal Brokerage, assists couples with buying weddings that were pre-planned by another couple who opted not to get married. The company’s CEO, Laura Byrne, stated she helps clients achieve a venue, photographer, DJ, and other wedding necessities for less. According to Byrne, there are currently more couples seeking to purchase a discounted wedding than she can accommodate.

In order to sell a wedding, the couple who has opted not to marry must contact a wedding brokerage company with information such as the wedding date, the maximum number of guests the arrangements will accommodate, the cost, and other details. The brokerage company then contacts couples who seek to marry under similar circumstances to see if the potential match will work for them. If a match is made, the wedding is sold at a discount to the new couple who also become responsible for any outstanding wedding bills. The wedding brokerage company then takes a percentage of the price of the wedding and forwards the remaining money to the original couple. Although couples who choose not to marry will not recover all of the money they spent, selling their unused wedding can help to reduce their overall financial loss.

While many couples reportedly choose to contact a wedding brokerage company in order to reduce wedding costs, others simply want to save the time and hassle associated with planning each and every detail of such an event. In order to use a wedding brokerage company, however, a couple must generally be willing to get married within two to six months. Additionally, wedding purchasers must be flexible because not everything will be personalized. Still, important details such as the dress, party favors, and invitations must be selected by the new couple.

According to Byrne, her company’s target market is couples who are constrained by money or circumstances, not those who have always dreamed of planning the perfect storybook wedding. Byrne stated in addition to the budget conscious, she often assists couples on an accelerated wedding timeline due to military deployments or pregnancy.

Although no one who is engaged to be married expects to be left at the altar or become divorced, entering into a prenuptial agreement prior to marrying is always a smart move. A prenuptial agreement is a contract entered into by a bride and groom before marriage. Such an agreement will normally address how a couple’s assets will be distributed and any spousal support obligations that may arise in the event of a divorce or the death of a spouse. Too often, couples in Florida fail to enter into a prenuptial agreement and later regret their decision.
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Reality television star Evelyn Lozada has filed for divorce from former Miami Dolphins player Chad Johnson, formerly known as Chad Ochocinco, after only 41 days of marriage. The Basketball Wives star filed her petition in Broward County on August 14th, only three days after she accused her husband of domestic violence. In an emergency call made by a neighbor regarding the incident, Lozada can reportedly be heard stating Johnson head-butted her. Following the alleged altercation, Johnson was released from his position with the NFL team and a VH1 Reality show about the couple, who wed on July 4th, has been cancelled.

According to local police, the fight began after Lozada confronted Johnson regarding a receipt for condoms. The disagreement reportedly escalated and then became physical. Although Lodaza accused Johnson of initiating the violence, he stated she instead head-butted him. Lozada was treated at a local hospital for cuts to her head following the altercation. In a public statement, Johnson apologized for his behavior and stated he loved Lozado. The six-time Pro Bowler also said he planned on training hard in order to gain another chance to play in the NFL. In her petition for divorce, Lozada stated the couple had a premarital agreement in place. She also reportedly asked the court to require Johnson to pay her attorney’s fees and court costs.

Although no one expects to become divorced, entering into a prenuptial agreement is always a smart move. A prenuptial agreement is a contract that is entered into by a bride and groom prior to marriage. The agreement will specify exactly how a couple’s assets will be distributed in the event of a divorce or the death of one spouse. Because Johnson and Lozada entered into a premarital agreement prior to their wedding day, any questions regarding spousal support or other obligations will already be answered. Additionally, the often emotional divorce process will likely be less stressful on both parties. Too often, individuals with few assets fail to enter into a prenuptial agreement. Regardless of each spouse’s net worth at the time of the marriage, this is a decision many couples later regret.

Similarly, a postnuptial agreement can also make the divorce process easier on couples who choose to separate. Normally, a postnuptial agreement will outline exactly how a former couple’s marital assets will be divided and describe any agreed-upon spousal support obligations. A postnuptial agreement may also include provisions regarding child custody and support but such provisions are always subject to modification by a family law judge.

In the State of Florida, a trial court is not required to honor a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement provision that waives temporary attorney’s fees and costs. It is public policy in Florida that pre-divorce support may not be waived. Because of this, you should always speak to a divorce attorney regarding whether you need a temporary attorney’s fees and costs award.
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35-year-old World Wrestling Entertainment star and Tampa resident John Cena has reportedly filed for divorce from his high school sweetheart after three years of marriage. According to Cena’s divorce filing, the couple’s marriage is “irretrievably broken.” His soon to be ex-wife, Liz Huberdeau, has allegedly hired the same Miami divorce attorney who represented Linda Hogan in her divorce from former professional wrestling superstar Hulk Hogan. In that case, Hogan’s ex-wife was awarded nearly 70 percent of the couple’s assets.

Cena is currently worth an estimated $18 million. Prior to the couple’s wedding, Huberdeau reportedly signed a prenuptial agreement that will make it difficult for her to access most of Cena’s assets. According to some news reports, the agreement even allows Cena to recover gifts given to his wife during the couple’s marriage. Although Cena is unlikely to be required to share the bulk of his assets with his soon to be ex-wife, it will be interesting to see how the court handles the case since the couple has been involved in a relationship for the past 14 years. They do not have any children.

The split is expected to get ugly as reports claim Huberdeau was shocked when Cena filed for divorce. Although the couple was allegedly having marital issues, Huberdeau was reportedly convinced they would be worked out amicably. According to news reports, Cena asked Huberdeau to sign a pre-divorce settlement agreement prior to filing for divorce. She allegedly refused to sign the document.

In the State of Florida, a prenuptial agreement is a written contract signed prior to a marriage that outlines how a couple’s assets will be divided in the event of divorce or death. Cena should benefit from having a prenuptial agreement in place prior to his marriage as negotiations over assets and spousal support obligations should have been decided well in advance of the marriage. Unfortunately, it is common for individuals with few assets to enter into a marriage without a prenuptial agreement in place. Too often, they later regret their choice.

Postnuptial agreements can also be a useful tool for Florida couples who are contemplating a separation or divorce. A postnuptial agreement will normally address how marital assets will be divided and outline any spousal support obligations. Although such agreements may also include provisions regarding child custody and support, they are always subject to modification by a Florida family law court.
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