Legal Definitions - antenuptial

Antenuptial refers to anything that occurs or exists before a marriage. It is often used interchangeably with the term "prenuptial."

The most common application of this term is in an antenuptial agreement (often called a prenuptial agreement or "prenup"), which is a contract entered into by prospective spouses before marriage. This agreement typically outlines how assets, debts, and other financial matters will be handled during the marriage and in the event of divorce or death.

Here are some examples illustrating the use of "antenuptial":

• Example 1: Before their wedding, Sarah and David decided to sign an antenuptial agreement. This document specified how their individual properties and any future earnings would be divided if their marriage were to end. This illustrates "antenuptial" because the agreement was made and signed before their marriage ceremony took place, addressing potential future issues.

• Example 2: Michael's grandmother gifted him a valuable antique watch with the condition that it remain his separate property, even after his upcoming marriage. She had her lawyer draft a simple declaration, which Michael signed antenuptial to his wedding, acknowledging this condition. Here, "antenuptial" describes the timing of the declaration, which legally established the watch's status before he entered into marriage.

• Example 3: A couple planning a destination wedding in another country needed to complete certain legal formalities required by that nation's laws. They had to submit specific identification documents and undergo a brief interview with a local magistrate antenuptial to their scheduled wedding date. This demonstrates "antenuptial" as these legal steps and submissions were necessary and completed before the marriage could legally occur in that jurisdiction.