Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreement Lawyers in Shreveport, LA 

Have you considered creating a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement? We understand at Ryan E. Gatti, Attorney at Law that these legal documents are sometimes taboo. Wouldn’t an agreement potentially cause trouble for an otherwise happy couple? The truth is these legal documents are tools that can actually foster open communication and bring couples closer together. Not only that, but they safeguard individuals and families and can reduce the conflicts and difficulties that come with divorce. 

If you believe you could benefit from setting clear guidelines with your spouse for how to handle bank accounts, assets, debts, other financial matters, and more, turn to our Shreveport prenuptial and postnuptial agreement attorneys. They are here to guide you and your spouse through creating an enforceable agreement. 

Call (318) 633-0186 or contact our office online to schedule a consultation to discuss how family law team could help you.

The Benefits of a Prenuptial Agreement

Prenuptial agreements are legally binding contracts that protect people and provide them with peace of mind. 

Having one in place offers numerous benefits, including:

• Asset protection: A proper agreement will clearly detail what property is personal and shared in a marriage. This can ensure your belongings, investments, business interests, and other assets remain yours if something is to go wrong with the marriage.
• Clear financial responsibilities: You can include provisions in prenuptial agreements that describe how to handle expenses, manage bank accounts, and whether you or your spouse will pay spousal support in the event of a divorce.
• Debt allocation: In addition to providing direction for handling assets, prenuptial agreements can do the same for debts. This can be important if your spouse has significant debts you do not want to be responsible for if things go awry.
• Conflict reduction: While no couple wants to enter a marriage thinking about a divorce, a prenuptial agreement is like a contingency plan. Having one in place can minimize the difficulties of divorce by eliminating conflicts.
• Preserving privacy: Financial information can become public in divorces. A prenuptial agreement can keep your sensitive matters private.

Drafting a prenuptial agreement is no small matter, which is why you should not hesitate to consult an attorney. Ours at Ryan E. Gatti, Attorney at Law can help you create a detailed agreement and ensure it fulfills your needs. 

What Invalidates a Prenup in Louisiana?

If you and your spouse have written and signed a prenuptial agreement, you can generally count on it being enforceable. However, some circumstances could cause a court to invalidate your agreement. 

Spouses cannot: 

• Be coerced into signing an agreement
• Consent to the terms of an agreement if they are intoxicated, dealing with a serious mental illness, or having other issues that affect their mental faculties 

Additionally, a court could invalidate an agreement if a spouse has lied about their assets or debts, or if it has a serious mistake that makes its terms unclear. 

What Is a Postnuptial Agreement?

Postnuptial agreements are like prenuptial agreements. However, couples create and sign postnuptial agreements after they have been married. The uses and benefits of entering this kind of contract are varied. 

They can include:

• Establishing guidelines for how to divide property or allocate debts in the event of a divorce
• Outlining financial responsibilities during a marriage
• Handling and/or protecting new assets that you or your spouse receives, such as inheritances
• Addressing changes in income
• Determining how to divide or divest interests in a shared business
• Serving as an estate planning tool that outlines provisions for how to handle trusts, wills, and more
• Building trust and communication by allowing you and your spouse to openly discuss financial matters 

As with prenuptial agreements, you should carefully draft and review a postnuptial agreement with a trusted attorney. They can make certain your agreement complies with the law and suits you and your spouse. 

Set Up an Initial Consultation Today 

Trust our Shreveport prenuptial and postnuptial lawyers to help you and your spouse safeguard your futures. We have worked with countless couples across Northwest Louisiana and have drafted agreements that served their needs and gave them peace of mind. We would gladly do the same for you. 

Start with our firm by calling (318) 633-0186 or getting in touch online. We proudly serve those in Shreveport, Bossier City, Bossier Parish, and other areas in Northwest Louisiana.