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Rushed marriage for citizenship? Consider a prenup

On Behalf of | Apr 7, 2017 | Prenuptial Agreements

Citizenship and residency in the United States have become hot-button issues in recent months, as many immigrants and legal residents of the country are facing the very real possibility of deportation. As a response, many citizens in relationships with non-citizens have suddenly felt a strong motivation to accelerate their plans and marry each other sooner than later to combat the threat of losing the one they love. Of course, hastily marriages are especially susceptible to many of the issues that tear couples apart. If you are considering marrying a non-citizen, you should seriously look into a prenuptial agreement to ensure that you both remain protected if the marriage does not last.

No one wants to think that their marriage may not go the distance, but it is statistically more likely for marriages to end if they are rushed. It is important to understand that using a prenuptial agreement does not diminish the nature of your love for your partner. It merely protects you both from unintended consequences if you get to the other side of the residency crisis and feel differently than you do now.

A prenuptial agreement can even strengthen areas of a relationship when it is approached prudently. By using a prenuptial agreement, you can ensure that your spouse is not suddenly shouldered with some of your personal debt if you divorce, or protect intellectual property that you might not realize can be marital property. If you are a business owner, you can ensure that the business does not die if your marriage does.

If you are considering an accelerated path to marriage, you have all the more reason to protect both yourself and your spouse. Texas maintains unique marital property laws that often make property division more complicated, so determining your own terms is almost always preferable. If you are ready to create the right agreement for your relationship, an attorney with years of experience can ensure that you marriage is properly protected.

Source: The Boston Globe, “Immigration fears lead to sped-up weddings — and prenups,” Katie Johnston, April 02, 2017

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