Prenuptial Agreements at Coast To Coast Mediation Center

Traditionally, couples have gone to separate attorneys for their prenuptial agreements. No matter how gentle the attorneys try to be, the process of negotiating a prenup using separate counsel can be devastating and sometimes ends up with the couple calling off the wedding.

The process of arriving at a prenuptial agreement through mediation is very different than it is when separate counsel are retained. In mediation, both people clarify their needs and expectations and negotiate financial matters without creating distrust and hard feelings. With our help, couples determine the best way to deal with the assets they already have, as well as those they will acquire in the future. The process is a cooperative one. It creates a comfort zone around financial issues, so that the couple can focus on the rest of their relationship.

Our policy with a prenup, as with all other agreements, is to have each person review the proposed draft of the agreement with an outside attorney before signing it (this consultation takes about an hour). The end result is an agreement that has been reached through a collaborative process, not an adversarial one, one that is much more likely to stand the test of time.

Marriage-or-Divorce Agreements at Coast To Coast Mediation Center

We offer a unique mediation service that is designed for couples who would prefer to stay married, but feel that their marriage is probably headed toward divorce. We call this our "Marriage-or-Divorce Agreement." It is really made up of two agreements, a Marriage Agreement, which states the rights and responsibilities that each spouse sees as essential to creating a happy marriage with each other, and a Marital Settlement Agreement, which contains the terms of a divorce, but does not get filed with the court, unless the couple decides some day to get a divorce. Most couples who negotiate a Marriage-or-Divorce Agreement end up staying married.