Milwaukee Prenup Lawyer

We’ll spare you from the cheesy Wisconsin jokes and jump right into the meat of this article: hiring a prenup lawyer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin! (See what we did there?). Okay, okay, jokes aside, if you’ve clicked on this article, you’re likely engaged (or about to be engaged) and getting started on your prenup journey–congrats! But navigating through what to do, where to go, and who to call might feel overwhelming. We get it; it’s a lot! Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered on everything related to Milwaukee prenups: what prenup lawyers handle, how to find one, cost considerations, what goes into a WI prenup, and much more. So, stick around to discover all about Milwaukee, WI prenup lawyers.

Let’s start with a fundamental question: Do you really need a prenup lawyer in the great state of Wisconsin? Well, technically, it’s not a must-have for a valid and enforceable prenup in America’s Dairyland (a.k.a., WI). Nothing in Wisconsin’s statute or case law requires you to have a lawyer for an enforceable prenup. However, opting for a prenup lawyer can be beneficial to ensure your agreement aligns with state laws and suits your specific needs. Alternatively, you can utilize HelloPrenup’s state-compliant platform for a prenup that’s tailored to your preferences.

Note: if you decide to get a lawyer, be aware that you and your partner cannot share one attorney, as that would be considered a conflict of interest. Each person should have their own attorney.

The best way to find a tried and true lawyer is to ask your network. There’s no better way to vet out an attorney’s practice style than to get recommendations from trusted friends and colleagues. Plus, you can ask them questions about their communication style, timelines, cost, etc.

If you’re not sure of anyone you know that’s had a good prenup lawyer, you can turn to Milwaukee’s Bar Association. This is an excellent resource to find qualified prenup lawyers in your area. Check out the “hire an attorney” page to get started.

Then, there’s always trusty Google. You can type in search terms like “Milwaukee prenup lawyer” or “Milwaukee family law attorney” or any other combination of these types of terms. Just remember to look at these lawyer’s client reviews first. Google and Avvo often have client reviews posted online for anyone to view.

Wisconsin prenup requirements

So, what goes into a valid and enforceable prenup? Can you just scribble “what’s mine is mine, and what’s yours is yours” on a napkin and call it a day? No, unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple. Every state has a set of requirements that is necessary for validly creating and enforcing a prenup. It varies slightly from state to state. What is a valid and enforceable prenup in Minnesota may not be in Wisconsin. So, let’s dive into what WI law says about prenups:

• The prenup must be signed and in writing. 
• The prenup must be entered into voluntarily by both spouses. 
• The prenup must not be unconscionable when made (i.e., the contract shouldn’t be extremely unreasonable at the time it is signed). 
• Both parties should provide fair and reasonable financial disclosure. 
• Prenup should be fair to both parties at the time it is signed (this is determined on a case-by-case basis by a court). 
• If alimony waiver would leave one spouse needing public assistance, it may not enforce such a clause. 
• The prenup should not include unlawful terms or terms against WI’s public policy. 
• See the fine print on the above requirements in the Wisconsin prenuptial agreement (a.k.a. “Marital property agreement”) statute in Wis. Stat. §§ 766.58 to 766.588; See also In re Marriage of Krejci v. Krejci, 266 Wis. 2d 284 (Ct. Apps. 2003). 

As you can see, it’s not so straightforward, and hiring an attorney (or utilizing HelloPrenup) may be a good idea to ensure you are following Wisconsin’s legal requirements for a valid and enforceable prenup. 

If you skipped the whole article and went straight to this section, we totally understand. You want to know how much you’re going to spend. Well, luckily Milwaukee is not a high cost of living area. In fact, it’s right around the national average, in terms of COL, which in turn, means your attorney will cost around the national average, as well.

Prenup lawyers tend to charge by the hour. In Milwaukee, the average lawyer charges $231/hour. So, let’s say you have a relatively straightforward set of needs and finances. You may be looking at 12 hours of attorney work: two hours of consultations, two hours of drafting, four hours of negotiations, four hours of finalization. That lands you at right around $2,772 for your prenup (12 hours x $231/hour). Keep in mind this doesn’t include what your partner will need to pay their attorney! AND–this could fluctuate, depending on your situation and what attorney you hire.  Don’t run away just yet–there are cheaper alternatives, like HelloPrenup. With HelloPrenup, you can get a state-compliant prenup for just $599 per couple. Yes, you read that right!