Nuptial Agreements for Estate Planners
Nuptial Agreements for Estate Planners Meighan A. Harmon and Kim Kamin Meighan Harmon is a Partner I. INTRODUCTION with Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP, in Chicago. Her practice focuses on complex family law A. A nuptial, or marital, agreement cases. In 2011, she was elected by is an agreement entered into by a her peers to be President of the couple before or during marriage, Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial whereby they contractually agree (i) Lawyers. In 2004, the Law on how their assets would be divided Bulletin Publishing Company upon divorce or upon the death of named Meighan as one of the “40 Attorneys Under 40 in Illinois one party, (ii) on spousal support or to Watch,” and she has since been named in Best Lawyers alimony in the event of divorce, and in America, Leading Lawyers Network, and Illinois Super (iii) sometimes even on economic re- Lawyers. A frequent lecturer on family law topics, she is also a published author, she co-authors a chapter for the Illinois sponsibilities during the term of the Institute for Continuing Legal Education and has published marriage. articles in the Matrimonial Strategist, the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, The Family Advocate, and other publications. B. If a married individual does not Kim Kamin is a Principal at Gresham have an enforceable written agree- Partners, LLC where she serves ment, generally he or she has certain as Chief Wealth Strategist and a Client Advisor. In that capacity, she rights in the property of the other leads Gresham’s development and upon termination of the marriage implementation of estate, wealth under state law, whether by death transfer, philanthropic and fiduciary planning activities, and advises or divorce.
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