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Benefits of Creating a Prenuptial or Postnuptial Agreement
Although prenuptial and postnuptial agreements are often associated with the benefits they may provide during the divorce process, not all of their perks are related to divorce, or even legal separation. While you are blissfully planning your upcoming nuptials or are happily married, you may find the idea of a prenup or postnup unromantic or unappealing. However, these types of contracts do not doom your marriage to failure. Marriages that begin with such contracts often have a more open and honest beginning, which can create a stronger foundation for a long-lasting union.
These are some of the primary benefits that many couples enjoy when they create a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement:
Open Communication Before You Say “I Do”
Finances are often a hot topic during divorce cases, especially when it comes to hidden debts or assets. Many people enter into marriage only to discover that their new spouse has thousands of dollars in student loan debt. When you add that to the price of a potential mortgage and the wedding expenses themselves, there may be little left with which to begin a family. A discovery of this magnitude can put a strain on any union and alter the dynamic of a family, forcing spouses to adjust their goals and expectations for their marriage.
What Steps Are Followed During the Foreclosure Process?
If you are struggling to make your mortgage payments, the threat of losing your home can be a terrifying thought. After a mortgage is in default, the lender can sue to have the right to sell the property in what is known as a foreclosure sale. Throughout the United States, more than four million people have lost their homes to foreclosure since 2007. If you are facing the potential foreclosure of your home, you should be sure to understand the procedures that will be followed and the legal options available to you.
The Foreclosure Process
When a mortgage has not been paid, a lawyer from the lending institution may begin a lawsuit by filing a complaint in court. After that, a summons and complaint are delivered by a process server or a sheriff. The summons is a notification of the case being filed. Within 30 days of receiving the summons, you must either file an answer and court appearance or a motion of your own.
How to Obtain Guardianship of a Child in Illinois
When a baby is born, the parent of that child has the immediate authority to make decisions on behalf of that child. Formal adoption of a child will also grant the same parental ability. However, unfortunate circumstances sometimes require the child to be cared for by someone who is not a biological parent, such as the death of both parents. In these cases, a guardian is appointed to care for and make parental decisions on the child’s behalf.
What Is a Guardian?
When both parents are unable to care for their child, a guardian will be appointed to step into the parental role. A guardian does not have to be related to the child, but the guardian must be 18 years or older and a resident of the United States. A potential guardian must not have any legal disability preventing the ability to care for the child or a felony conviction that would endanger the child. In most cases, the circuit court appoints a guardian. The difference between adoption and guardianship is that guardianship ends when the child turns 18 years old.
What Is the Difference Between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?
There are many ways a person can build up debt that he is unable to repay. An individual may accumulate multiple high-balance debts, such as a mortgage, auto loans, medical bills, or credit cards. Whether it is due to poor luck or decisions that did not work out as planned, when a person gets in over his head, he has the option to file for bankruptcy.
Bankruptcy allows a person to have a second chance if he no longer has the resources to repay his debts. While there are benefits to bankruptcy, such as the forgiveness of some debts, it will negatively affect a person’s credit score and his ability to borrow money in the future.
There are two common types of bankruptcy available to individuals, and each one has different requirements and regulations:
- Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: This method of bankruptcy will discharge most outstanding debts. Some debts, such as student loans or obligations to pay child support or spousal maintenance, cannot be discharged. When filing for Chapter 7, a person’s non-exempt assets will be liquidated by the bankruptcy trustee to pay off some of his debts. Some examples of assets which are exempt are tax-exempt retirement accounts, necessary clothing, educational texts, and prescribed health aids. In some cases, a filer may be able to maintain ownership of a home and/or a car that is below a certain value. This method provides a clean slate and fresh start by eliminating most debts.
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