When you are getting married or starting a de-facto relationship, seeing a lawyer is the last thing on your to-do list! But there are few things you should consider before taking the plunge.
Congratulations! Getting married or starting a de-facto relationship by moving in together is a major event in your life. And, as with most major events, it pays to get your legal house in order well in advance of the big day. Here are some of the things to consider:
- What would happen to your financial assets should the relationship break down? This is particularly important if one person has more assets than the other, and if there are blended families involved.
- What do you want to happens if you or your partner dies?
- What do you want to happen if one of you can no longer look after themselves?
- Is it time to buy a new place to live?
We understand that some of these topics are a little bit depressing at what is otherwise a very happy time, but it is always better to be safe than sorry! We are here to help you address these issues together.
How we help
1. Prenuptial agreements
A prenuptial agreement defines what will happen to the financial assets you bring into the marriage (or de-facto relationship) if your relationship breaks down. This is an important conversation to have, especially if one partner has significantly more assets than another, if there are children from previous relationships to consider or if you have a family business.
Our family law team can help you negotiate, draft and review a fair prenuptial agreement with your partner that protects your interests and the best interests of your children.
2. Preparing a will
If you don't have a will, now is a good time to have one prepared by an experienced lawyer. If you already have a will, you need to update it to reflect your new circumstances. In many Australian States, marriage will nullify your existing Will.
3. Setting up Powers of Attorney
Powers of Attorney are important legal documents that ensure that someone you trust is authorised to make decisions on your behalf in case a serious illness or accident means that you can't make decisions for yourself.
These are particularly important for couples entering into a de-facto relationship. Without Powers of Attorney, you typically need to prove a de-facto relationship in order to make decisions for the affected partner. This can be time-consuming, difficult and another burden at a stressful time.
4. Buying a home
We can also manage the legal process associated with buying a new place to live together!
Our firm values openness, collaboration and integrity.
We make sure you understand what your options are, what you need to do, what will happen next and what our services will cost at every step of the journey.
That’s why our clients choose us for this important work. And why you should too!
Related services
Pre-nuptial agreements
Get your pre-nuptial agreement drafted by Tonkin Law. This is a very important document and you should seek experts in pre-nuptial agreement law to draft it
Preparing a Will
Expert help to prepare a legally valid Will that explains what you want to happen to your family, property, assets and possessions when you die.
Powers of Attorney
Nominate your power of attorney to ensure someone you trust is authorised to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to make decisions for yourself.
Property & Conveyancing
When you buy a house, you want an experienced, supportive conveyancing lawyer behind you. Find out about our property conveyancing services here.
