Terms of prenuptial agreements can be disputed in some divorces

Celebrities may try to protect both their privacy and their financial well-being through marital contracts and other means, though these may both be under attack in the event of a divorce trial. Prenuptial agreements are intended to establish property division if a relationship ends, and to that end, each party is urged to obtain separate legal counsel to ensure they are protected. Florida residents who enter a prenuptial contract are encouraged to ensure that all terms are carefully spelled out and agreed to by both partners.

Actor Robert DeNiro and his wife, Grace Hightower, are battling through their second divorce. When they decided to give marriage another try, they signed a prenuptial agreement in 2004. It  detailed how Hightower would be compensated in a divorce. In spite of this agreement, she and her attorneys are now disputing the fairness of the terms.

Purportedly, DeNiro has an approximate net worth of $500,000,000, which was generated from his film career and his various business holdings. The prenup dictated that Hightower would be entitled to a cash settlement of $500,000, an apartment valued at $6 million and alimony totalling $1 million annually. In addition, she would split the value of a second apartment. Her attorneys are arguing that, based on DeNiro’s net worth, his former wife is entitled to half of the actor’s earnings since their marriage commenced in 2004.

DeNiro’s lawyer has asked the court to affirm the terms of the couple’s existing prenup. Along with the battle over the actor’s wealth, they are fighting over custody of their youngest child. Florida residents may have concerns about the possibility their prenuptial agreements would be challenged during a heated divorce. In order to ensure that these contracts are validated by a court, the assistance of a skilled attorney may be invaluable in ensuring that the terms are clearly stated and comply with state laws, and that both parties fully understand and agree to the terms.

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