Setting Aside a Prenuptial Agreement in a Florida Divorce
Many times people enter into agreements before marriage that outline how property will be divided and what alimony arrangements will take place at the time of a potential divorce. These "antenuptial" or "prenuptial" agreements are often attacked when the couple eventually file suit to dissolve their marriage.
When someone finds that the property to be received in a Florida divorce is less than what normally would occur because of what is required by a prenuptial agreement, often the next step is to contact an expert Tampa divorce lawyer to try to get the agreement set aside. When the amount of alimony to be paid is far less than what the receiving spouse would receive without such an agreement, advice as to how to set aside the agreement becomes necessary.
A Florida divorce judge will first look at whether the prenuptial agreement is unfair as compared to what the court would do without the agreement. For example, has one of the spouses given up property or alimony rights that would have been available during a divorce without the existence of a prenuptial agreement? If there is a significant difference in what the court would do with and without the existence of the agreement, then the court can determine that the agreement is unfair.
The next question in determining whether to set aside the agreement involves fraud or duress. Was undue pressure put on one spouse to get a signature on the agreement, such as first bringing up the agreement on the eve of the wedding after many expenses have been incurred and people have traveled long distances to attend? And did the other spouse fully disclose all finances in advance of the signing of the agreement?
Bottom line: Contact your expert Florida divorce attorney to assess whether your prenuptial agreement is subject to being set aside.