Protections for Marriage and Divorce in Westport

At Broder Orland Murray & DeMattie LLC, Connecticut’s largest Family Law firm with offices in Westport and Greenwich, we regularly counsel families on protections for marriage and divorce in Westport—particularly when it comes to preserving generational wealth. While no one enters a marriage expecting divorce, statistics show that many marriages do not last. Whether your family has preserved wealth for generations or recently accumulated assets through a successful business, employment, or investments, it is essential to explore proactive ways to protect these assets. From safeguarding family businesses to preserving trust interests, taking legal precautions before or during marriage can help secure your financial future.

We understand that discussing financial protection with children or family members—especially when a marriage is approaching—can be sensitive. With decades of experience, our talented martital agreements attorneys have successfully guided families through these important conversations and implemented effective legal strategies to protect wealth for future generations.

Prenuptial Agreements

A prenuptial agreement is one of the most common legal tools used to protect assets before marriage. It ensures that property owned prior to the marriage or acquired through inheritance or trust distributions—along with any appreciation in value—remains separate property in the event of a divorce.

When generational wealth is at stake, a carefully negotiated and executed prenuptial agreement is crucial. Our attorneys regularly draft and negotiate prenuptial agreements designed to safeguard family wealth and business interests for our clients.

Post-Nuptial Agreements

Similar to prenuptial agreements, postnuptial agreements are signed after marriage and are often used when one spouse acquires substantial wealth during the marriage. This might occur through launching a successful business or receiving a significant inheritance.

We help clients structure postnuptial agreements to ensure that newly acquired wealth remains protected if a divorce occurs, aligning with broader family wealth preservation goals.

Family Business By-Laws

A family business is often one of the most valuable assets in a marriage. Without proper planning, a business interest could be subject to division during divorce.

Our attorneys coordinate with business counsel to integrate protective provisions into corporate by-laws. These provisions help shield ownership interests from being distributed to a non-titled spouse in the event of divorce, preserving the integrity of the family business.

Trusts

Trusts are another effective way to protect generational wealth before marriage. When a family member is planning to marry, we often recommend creating or updating trust instruments in conjunction with a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement.

We collaborate closely with estate planning teams to ensure that all documents—trusts, prenuptial agreements, and postnuptial agreements—work together to provide comprehensive asset protection.

Protecting Your Future: Protections for Marriage and Divorce in Westport

At Broder Orland Murray & DeMattie LLC, we are dedicated to helping families secure their financial future through tailored legal strategies. Whether you need a prenuptial agreement, postnuptial agreement, trust, or business by-laws, our attorneys have the experience to help protect your wealth before or during marriage.