ContractsCounsel has assisted 1083 clients with prenuptial agreements and maintains a network of 164 prenup lawyers available daily. These lawyers collectively have 175 reviews to help you choose the best lawyer for your needs.
How much does a Maryland prenuptial agreement cost? This a common question asked by couples who are planning to get married in Maryland. Let’s explore this question and review some general information about prenuptial agreements and how they can protect you and your spouse’s assets.
The average cost (i.e., legal fees) for a Maryland lawyer to draft a prenuptial agreement is $780.00 [1] on a flat fee basis. The average cost for a Maryland lawyer to review a prenuptial agreement is $700.00 [2] on a flat fee basis. These cost points come from recent Maryland prenup projects on the ContractsCounsel platform.
Prenuptial agreements, also called antenuptial agreements, premarital agreements, or simple “prenups”, are legally binding contracts that a couple executes prior to getting married. A prenuptial agreement is a way for couples to plan out how their property and debts will be distributed if their marriage ends.
It is common for a couple to hire an attorney to draft their prenuptial agreement and some states even require attorneys to represent each party when signing a prenup. This contract is legally binding and needs to include specific information and abide by Maryland state laws to be enforceable. A lawyer will know how to draft an agreement that fair and enforceable.
While most people associate prenuptial agreements with divorce, these agreements also include provisions for the death of a spouse and can help a couple plan out how finances will be handled during the marriage. Many people believe that prenups are only for people who are extremely wealthy, but there are many reasons a couple should plan out their financial futures before getting married. Here are some common reasons you may want to consider executing a prenup :
Prenuptial agreements can be customized based on the needs of the spouses and the different types of assets they possess. It is common to see the following items addressed in a prenup:
Unlike many states which have specific laws governing wills or have adopted the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act (UPAA), Maryland doesn’t have any specific laws for prenups. Instead, the state treats prenups like any other contract and requires these documents to follow state contract laws. To be legally enforceable, a prenup in Maryland must meet these basic contract requirements:
Courts will only ignore a prenup if a valid defense is raised during the divorce which can include fraud relating to the information in the prenup, or signing the agreement under duress, coercion, or undue influence. If the prenup is found to be unconscionable, a judge may also override the contract.
Hiring an attorney to draft a prenup is recommended because a lawyer will be familiar with Maryland contract law and know what can and cannot be included and enforced in a Maryland prenuptial agreement.
Before drafting a prenuptial agreement, the lawyer will consult with the couple to learn about their assets, debts, and future plans. The attorney will then draft an agreement that implements these terms.
It is wise, and in some states, required by law, that each spouse be represented by their own attorney when executing a prenup. This means that one spouses attorney will draft the agreement, and the other spouse’s attorney will review it.
The reviewing attorney will read through the agreement to ensure that it is fair, their client fully understands the terms and conditions, and the agreement has their clients best interests in mind.
When hiring a lawyer to draft their prenuptial agreement, you can expect to incur legal fees because drafting a contract of any kind requires the time and legal expertise of a licensed lawyer.
According to ContractsCounsel's marketplace data, the average prenuptial agreement drafting costs in Maryland are $780.00.
Hiring an attorney to review a prenuptial agreement will also come with legal fees. Even though the attorney isn’t drafting the document, they will still take their time reading over the contract and advising their client about the contents.
ContractsCounsel's marketplace data shows the average prenuptial agreement review costs in Maryland are $700.00.
Family law attorneys in Maryland typically charge their clients using an hourly rate fee structure. With this fee agreement, a lawyer will bill a client at a set hourly rate for time spent working on drafting the prenup.
The marketplace data for ContractsCounsel shows the average hourly rate for a family lawyer in Maryland ranges from $200 - $350 per hour.
Flat fee rates are commonly used when a lawyer is hired for a specific task like drafting or reviewing a prenuptial agreement. In a flat fee payment structure, an attorney will charge the client a flat fee price for the entire legal project.
ContractsCounsel's marketplace data shows the average flat fee rate for a prenuptial agreement in Maryland is $748.00.
Do you need help with a prenuptial agreement project? If so, post a project in ContractsCounsel's marketplace to receive flat fee bids from family lawyers who are licensed to practice law in Maryland and can handle your project. All lawyers on the ContractsCounsel's platform are vetted by our team to make sure you are provided with top-tier service.
ContractsCounsel is not a law firm, and this post should not be considered and does not contain legal advice. To ensure the information and advice in this post are correct, sufficient, and appropriate for your situation, please consult a licensed attorney. Also, using or accessing ContractsCounsel's site does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and ContractsCounsel.