Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

Disclaimer: This is for a script I'm working on, and doesn't pertain to a real life case. I would just really appreciate some factual information regarding this issue.

I was wondering if a prenup could be drafted so as to make divorce very painful (costly) for both parties or for just one of them. For example, would it be legal if the prenup specified that the person filing for divorce had to give their spouse a certain sum of money (regardless of whether they actually had that money or not)?

What other clauses in the prenup could discourage an actual divorce?


Asked on 11/08/13, 12:59 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Fran Brochstein Attorney & Mediator

Are you talking about a TX divorce? Unfortunately, family law (divorce) is state specific. So works in TX might not work in another state.

In TX, you have to disclose all assets in order for the pre-nup to be valid. So the person could not offer a certain sum of money unless that person actually had it.

Also, if it the pre-nup is unfair then the judge can "set it aside" at the later date.

And both parties must have an attorney at the time the pre-nup is signed in order for it to be valid at the time of the divorce.

And, in Texas, after the marriage there must be a post-nuptial document signed AGAIN that is basically identical to the pre-nup that merely affirms that the parties really intended that the pre-nup was what they intended. That way it shows that neither party was "forced" to sign the pre-nup.

Also, divorce is usually costly and painful for both parties.

I hope this is helpful. You are not the first person to be writing a book and contact TX attorneys regarding TX family law. It's tricky because this area of the law varies in each state. Also, if it is too harsh the judge will "set it aside" in a divorce and treat it as if it does not exist. So most attorneys use the TX form that has withstood appeals and quit putting in "strange" clauses.

What most people do is just keep all their assets separate and never establish a community estate. Then is there is divorce there is no "estate" to divide. If you don't co-mingle assets then there is nothing for the judge to divide. Quick and easy divorce. It's done all the time.

Or, the wealthy spouse puts everything in a trust. Again, the new spouse cannot touch the money because the wealthy spouse has "nothing" in his name. Everything is in a trust. The trust owns everything. Breaking a well-drawn trust is damn hard - especially if done BEFORE the couple marries.

You can thank me for this wonderful advice.

You can call me at 713-847-6000 or my cell 713-805-9591 for other ideas. The other author did and thanked me - but i messed up her storyline!

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Answered on 11/09/13, 10:30 am


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