What Can Void a Prenuptial Agreement in Illinois?

A prenuptial agreement can outline different marital issues between you and your partner if you go down the path of marriage termination. However, you can’t write on a random paper and claim it’s prenuptial—it must be valid and agreed upon by both spouses. These contracts are binding, but some things can void a prenuptial agreement in Illinois. Knowing what can invalidate your agreement is important for ensuring your agreement is solid and not compromised.

Prenuptial Signed in Duress

The prenuptial agreement is, as the name states, an agreement. If one party is under duress, the agreement can be invalid. Duress can look like many things, but it commonly looks like one spouse manipulating the other into signing the prenup instead of both individuals signing consensually.

Manipulation can look very different, depending on the situation. One clear instance of manipulation is surprising your spouse with the prenup right before the wedding and not agreeing to the wedding unless they sign the prenup. For a prenuptial agreement to be legally sound, you and your partner must be aware of all the conditions outlined and be ready and willing to sign it with no manipulation involved.

No Physical Agreement

While verbal contracts can be legally binding in some instances, they are incredibly difficult to prove and enforce in many instances. There must be a written agreement for prenuptial agreements, and both parties must willingly sign it. Even if a witness is present when a couple makes a verbal agreement, it is not enforceable and will not hold up in a court of law.