The Benefits Of Using Unbundled Legal Services For Prenuptial And Settlement Agreements

In this article, you can discover:

• How unbundled services can save you money and provide peace of mind?

If you’re considering a prenuptial agreement, it’s essential to understand how they work, how to make them enforceable and what problems can come up with them in the event of a divorce. Prenuptial agreements are often done as an “unbundled service.” This means that you pay one flat fee for the entire agreement rather than paying by the hour. Settlement agreements in divorce cases are also often done as unbundled services.

Many couples considering marriage have existing assets that they wish to ensure will remain separate assets. Other couples want to make agreements prior to marriage that outline what will happen with assets acquired during marriage in the event of a divorce. A prenuptial agreement is a contract between spouses that can achieve those goals. A prenup can also resolve what the parties will do with respect to dividing property that is joint, or marital property, and what will be done with respect to alimony or spousal support.

When considering a prenup prior to marriage or a settlement agreement prior to divorce, it is very important that you have solid legal advice about the terms of the agreement and that you ensure it is written in a way that makes it strong and enforceable. Since most people are going to rely on the terms of their prenup or settlement agreement, you don’t want to find out at the time of a divorce that the agreement is unenforceable or can be attacked for some reason based on how it was drafted, how it was executed, or some ambiguity in the terms.

Using an attorney who provides limited scope or “unbundled” legal services is a great way to make prenup or a settlement agreement affordable. An attorney providing unbundled services may charge a flat fee for your agreement based upon the number or complexity of the terms, so a simpler agreement will be less expensive than one with a number of issues. With a flat fee, any information gathering or communication required to draft and complete your agreement will be included in the fee, so you know exactly what the cost will be before you get started.

If the parties to a divorce are already close to an agreement, they may only need an attorney to draft and advise them on the agreement, and once that’s done can do the uncontested divorce on their own or with minimal assistance from an attorney. This is another area where unbundled or limited scope services can be beneficial. You can pay a fee for your agreement but not need to pay the hourly rate for an attorney to do administrative steps that you can do on your own.

Many parties settle their cases through mediation, which can sometimes involve putting the agreement into writing. However, a mediator can only record the particular points that were agreed upon. It’s important to remember that the ‘fine print’ or ‘legalese’ in legal documents serves a purpose. An attorney can provide unbundled services to advise you about your mediated agreement and make recommendations for additional language that doesn’t change the agreement, but might ensure it’s fairness, make it more enforceable, or avoid problems stemming from ambiguity.

As an unbundled service, drafting a prenup or settlement agreement with an attorney is a great way to finalize an agreement and protect both parties going forward. By providing clear language and outlining potential problems that may arise, both sides can be assured that they understand the agreement and their rights under it.

With the guidance of a skilled attorney for Prenuptial Agreements, you can have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that we’ll make it look easy.

For more information on Prenuptial Agreements in Maryland, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (443) 300-2335 today.