Matrimonial attorneys in Pasadena agree that prenuptial agreements are the best way to protect assets in the event of a divorce, but only if they hold up in a court of law.
Billionaire and Citadel CEO Ken Griffin is in the middle of a hotly disputed divorce from estranged wife Anne Dias Griffin. Anne has requested to nullify the couple's 2003 prenuptial agreement, claiming that she was coerced into signing the document. A prenuptial agreement is only legally valid if both parties sign the agreement of their own free will. Anne has reported that she did not receive the prenuptial agreement until just two days before their wedding and that the agreement was not signed until moments before the rehearsal dinner. Coercion, whether through threatening to call off the wedding or waiting until the last possible minute to request that the document be signed, is not allowed.
Other possible reasons for invalidating a prenuptial agreement include:
- The agreement provides false information regarding assets, income, and liabilities of both parties.
- The agreement provides incomplete information, failing to disclose financial factors that would be key to negotiating an informed agreement.
- Independent legal counsel was not provided for both parties. (The same attorney can't represent both parties because of the inherent conflict of interest.)
- The agreement is considered grossly unfair to one party, causing him or her to face severe financial hardship in the event of a divorce.
The Griffin prenup gave Anne $25 million upon signing the agreement and $1 million for every year they were married. Ken reportedly has a net worth of $5.5 billion.
In addition to asking the court to invalidate the prenuptial agreement in favor of an equitable division of marital assets, Anne is also asking Ken to pay $1 million per month in living expenses for her and their three children. Previously, she filed documents requesting sole custody of the children and permission to relocate from Chicago to New York.
How Can We Help?
Please call our office at (626) 683-8113 or email us at info@PasadenaLawOffice.com if you have questions relating to the validity of your prenuptial agreement. Our team of skilled Pasadena divorce lawyers are eager to advocate for your interests throughout the divorce process and help you receive a settlement that will allow you to move on with the next phase of your life.