Marriage is an exciting event in everybody’s life. Divorce lawyers have observed that, in most cases, the couples who thought of themselves as the most compatible end up divorcing each other in court. Many factors are responsible for an unsuccessful marriage, and even though no one marries to be divorced later, it is always practical to know a few crucial things about the marriage before your wedding. Vigilance is an invaluable asset. It may not sound so romantic, but it is efficient. Here are the top picks by our divorce lawyers at the Right Lawyers about things you must know before marriage in Las Vegas.
Be sure to have a basic idea about the general laws related to marriage in Las Vegas
Like other States, Nevada has its own rules and regulations about marriage and divorce. Get an idea about the laws related to marital property, fiduciary duties, privacy laws, child support, prenuptial agreements, and divorce laws.
Marital property is the joint assets that the couples acquire after the marriage. It can be real estate, savings, joint account investments, retirement funds, or other tangible assets. If you want to keep a particular asset out of the marital property, consider discussing it with your future spouse in a prenuptial agreement with concise legal wording to avoid future complications. In Las Vegas, couples must observe the fiduciary duties towards each other. Some of the fiduciary duties include;
- Honesty and good faith
- Avoid cheating, extra-marital affairs, stealing from your partner
- No joint financial endeavors without the consent of your partner
- No use of spyware, tracking devices, etc
Prenuptial agreement
Prenups can be challenging if you don’t know the marriage and divorce laws in Las Vegas. A prenup is a mutual agreement between the future spouses before marriage about how the assets will be divided between them in the event of separation and other matters. A prenuptial agreement defines the future rights and obligations of the partners who are entering into a marriage, and it usually covers matters such as;
- Financial duties of each spouse — income, savings, loans, mortgages, bank accounts, personal savings, real estate, investments, business endeavors, etc.
- The pre-marriage and post-marriage assets and how these assets will be divided between the spouses in the event of divorce or death of one of the spouses.
- Any other rights and obligations which the spouses may want to define.
Prenuptial agreements are enforced under the premarital Agreement Act in Las Vegas. It must be reduced in writing and signed by both parties with free consent to be a valid agreement. If you intend to have children, having a conversation with a family lawyer about child support, child custody, and financial duties toward children can help avoid many future complications.
Know the divorce laws before tying the knot
In Las Vegas, couples can opt for an uncontested and contested divorce, according to the need of their case. Some divorces are fault-based, in which you have to show a legal ground to get a divorce. However, in Los Vegas, you can have a no-fault divorce which means no legal grounds are required to obtain a divorce decree. A six-month residency proof of one of the spouses is a prerequisite to filing for a divorce. Whether you go for a contested or an uncontested divorce, you will need a Los Vegas divorce attorney.
It is not necessary for both spouses to be residents of Las Vegas to bring a divorce case. Six months’ proof of residency is enough for one spouse to initiate a divorce claim in Las Vegas. The State laws of the resident spouse will be applied when deciding the divorce by the family court to a non-resident spouse. According to our divorce lawyers, in Las Vegas, if the whereabouts of a spouse are unknown, the State law allows the service of summons by the court through publication via the newspaper.
Consult a divorce lawyer about what you should know about divorce laws in Las Vegas. Many divorce lawyers in Las Vegas have a specialty in contested and uncontested divorces. If you are unsure how to find an excellent divorce attorney, search the internet by typing in search words like ‘divorce lawyers near me’, ‘divorce lawyers in Las Vegas’, or ‘divorce lawyers for men’ to narrow down the results.
Have a discussion with your future spouse about all important matters
According to our divorce lawyers, almost 60% of couples end up divorcing each other within a few years of marriage. They have attributed it to not having conversations about many marriage-related matters. Our divorce attorneys deal with divorce cases where conflict may arise later because of the different parenting styles, religious beliefs, finance management, etc. Always make sure that
- You have discussed how you will manage the finances.
- Define the roles. Who will be the home runner, and which spouse will be the breadwinner? If a spouse is making a compromise on their career, they will later claim alimony support from you if you divorce each other.
- Have a discussion about children and parenting styles. Many couples who don’t have this discussion may end up resolving the matter in the Court in child custody and child support cases.
- Discuss how the couple will acquire the marital assets and what would be each spouse’s share in it. Asset division can become an ugly matter in a contested divorce case later.
- Understand the religious beliefs and political affiliations of your future spouse. Conflict often occurs between the spouses later based on disharmony in religious beliefs, cultural differences, personal opinions, or other matters.
Bottom Line
In a nutshell, meeting with a divorce can be an eye-opener for couples on many crucial issues, and it would be beneficial for you to understand your rights and duties better before you tie the knot with your future spouse. Las Vegas marriage and divorce laws are in place to protect spouses from future conflicts, but our divorce lawyers at Right Lawyers advise couples to stay vigilant in a marriage. Consulting a family lawyer after your engagement can help you clear many misconceptions about laws related to marriage.