Prenuptial agreements, postnuptial agreements, uncontested divorce, separation agreements, and property settlement agreements — drafted with predictable cost and the care these conversations deserve.
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Family law done well is mostly about getting agreements in writing before they're needed. Prenups before marriage. Postnups when something has changed. Separation and divorce agreements when a marriage is ending. The work is sensitive but not necessarily contentious — most matters can be handled by agreement rather than by litigation.
A prenuptial agreement is a contract entered into before marriage that defines what happens to property, income, and spousal support if the marriage ends — by divorce or by death. Without a prenup, default state law governs (equitable distribution in NY and NJ), which can produce results neither spouse expected. With a prenup, the spouses control the outcome.
Prenups are particularly useful when one or both spouses bring significant pre-marital assets, when one spouse has children from a prior relationship, when there's a substantial income disparity, or when one spouse has business interests they want to protect. We draft prenups for both sides — each spouse needs separate counsel for the agreement to be enforceable — and we typically work with the other spouse's attorney to reach an agreement that both sides can sign with confidence. The work involves financial disclosure, negotiation of specific terms, and careful attention to enforceability standards.
A postnuptial agreement is the same idea as a prenup but signed after the wedding. People consider postnups when something has changed: one spouse has come into significant assets (an inheritance, a business sale, a successful exit), the marriage has had a difficult period and the spouses want to define terms while things are stable, or initial planning oversights need correcting.
Postnups are enforceable in New York and New Jersey but are scrutinized more carefully than prenups by courts because the spouses are already married — there's less arms-length leverage. We draft postnups with that scrutiny in mind: full financial disclosure, separate counsel for each spouse, clear consideration, and careful documentation of the negotiation process. Done correctly, postnups are an effective tool for protecting assets and clarifying expectations.
An uncontested divorce is one where both spouses agree on all terms — division of assets, alimony (if any), child custody (if applicable), and child support. There's no trial, no extensive discovery, and the cost is dramatically lower than a contested divorce. The work is in negotiating a fair settlement and drafting the agreement that documents it.
We handle uncontested divorces in New York and New Jersey for a flat fee. The process: we represent one spouse, we negotiate terms with the other spouse (or with their attorney), we draft a settlement agreement that addresses every relevant issue, both spouses sign it, and we file the divorce with the court. For couples without significant assets or children, the timeline is typically 2-4 months. For couples with more complex situations, the agreement-drafting takes longer but the court process is the same.
A separation agreement is a written contract between spouses who are living separately or planning to. It covers the same issues as a divorce settlement (property, support, custody) but without dissolving the marriage. Separation agreements are useful when spouses want to live apart but aren't ready to divorce — for religious, financial, insurance, or personal reasons — and they're often used as a transitional step toward divorce.
In New York, a properly executed separation agreement followed by one year of separate living is a basis for divorce on its own (in addition to the no-fault grounds). In New Jersey, separation isn't a separate legal status, but separation agreements are still common and enforceable. We draft separation agreements that address both the immediate practical questions (how the household functions during separation) and the longer-term issues (how property is divided if the marriage ultimately ends).
Property settlement agreements (sometimes called marital settlement agreements) are the document that resolves all financial and practical issues in a divorce: who keeps which house, how retirement accounts are divided, who pays which debts, what happens to investment accounts, whether spousal support is paid and for how long. In a contested divorce, this agreement is the result of months of negotiation. In an uncontested divorce, it's drafted up front and signed by both spouses.
The drafting matters. A poorly-drafted settlement creates ambiguities that come up years later — how exactly is "the brokerage account" divided when the value has changed, who pays for the kids' college, what happens to the house if one spouse can't keep refinancing it. We draft settlements that resolve these issues clearly and durably, with attention to tax consequences (which can be significant) and enforceability if something doesn't go as planned.
A cohabitation agreement is a contract between unmarried partners who live together. It addresses property ownership, financial contributions to the household, what happens if the relationship ends, and (in some cases) issues that would otherwise be governed by marital law if the couple were married. Cohabitation agreements have grown more common as more couples opt to live together long-term without marrying — and the legal framework for unmarried couples is much less developed than for married ones.
Cohabitation agreements are particularly important when one partner owns the home and the other contributes to mortgage or improvement costs, when partners pool money in joint accounts, when one partner reduces career commitments to support the other, or when a couple has children but isn't married. We draft cohabitation agreements that address these issues and provide enforceable rights — without the agreement, an unmarried partner has very limited claims regardless of contribution.
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Flat-fee prenup costs typically range from around $1,500 to $5,000 depending on the complexity of the financial situation — separate businesses, real estate, deferred compensation, premarital assets, and children from prior relationships all add complexity. Each party should have independent counsel, so the total cost across both lawyers is roughly twice the flat fee. We provide a precise quote after the initial consultation. These are typical ranges, not promises — your matter might price within them, below them, or above them depending on the specific facts.
Effectively yes. While the technical legal requirement varies by state, prenuptial agreements are most reliably enforceable when both parties have independent counsel reviewing on their behalf. Courts in both NY and NJ scrutinize prenups much more closely when one party didn't have counsel — and we recommend it for both fairness and durability.
Six months or more is ideal. Three months at the absolute minimum. Prenups signed days or weeks before the wedding face significantly higher enforceability challenges later — courts can find them coerced or rushed. Starting early also lets the financial disclosure and negotiation happen at a calm pace, which is the entire point.
Timing. Prenups are signed before marriage, postnups after. Otherwise the documents are similar in structure — both deal with how assets, debts, support, and other financial matters would be handled in the event of divorce or death. Postnups often arise when one spouse starts a business, comes into an inheritance, or when the couple wants to formalize the financial structure of an existing marriage.
Yes — when both spouses have already agreed on the major terms (asset division, debts, support, and custody where relevant). Uncontested divorces are significantly faster and lower-cost than contested ones. If a matter starts uncontested but becomes contested mid-process, we'll tell you and may refer you to litigation counsel.
No. We focus on consensual family law work — agreements both parties want documented, and uncontested filings. Contested divorces, custody disputes, family court litigation, domestic violence matters, and child support enforcement aren't part of our practice. If your matter requires litigation, we'll tell you during the consultation and refer you to counsel that handles it.
Yes. Initial consultations are protected by attorney-client privilege from the first call. We treat family law engagements with the discretion these matters require — and we recognize that the conversation itself is often the hardest part of the process.
Tatyana Agarunov is admitted in both states. Many couples we work with live in one state and have ties to the other — owning property across the river, working in different jurisdictions, or planning a move. Bi-state admission allows seamless representation.
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