Marriage – Premarital Agreements – Kansas

Kansas Statutes

Title of act: This act may be cited as the “uniform premarital agreement act.” History: L. 1988, ch. 204, § 1; July 1.23-2401

Definitions: As used in this act:
(a)  “Premarital agreement” means an agreement between prospective spouses made in contemplation of marriage and to be effective upon marriage; and
(b)  “property” means an interest, present or future, legal or equitable, vested or contingent, in real or personal property, including income and earnings. History:  L. 1988, ch. 204, § 2; July 1.23-2402
Premarital agreement; writing required: A premarital agreement shall be in writing and signed by both parties. It is enforceable without consideration. History:  L. 1988, ch. 204, § 3; July 1.23-2403

Same; areas with respect to which parties may contract; right of child to support not to be adversely affected:

(a) Parties to a premarital agreement may contract with respect to all of the following:

(1)  The rights and obligations of each of the parties in any of the property of either, or both, whenever and wherever acquired or located;
(2)  the right to buy, sell, use, transfer, exchange, abandon, lease, consume, expend, assign, create a security interest in, mortgage, encumber, dispose of or otherwise manage and control property;
(3)  the disposition of property upon separation, marital dissolution, death or the occurrence or nonoccurrence of any other event;
(4)  the modification or elimination of spousal support;
(5)  the making of a will, trust or other arrangement to carry out the provisions of the agreement;
(6)  the ownership rights in and disposition of the death benefit from a life insurance policy;
(7)  the choice of law governing the construction of the agreement; and
(8)  any other matter, including their personal rights and obligations, not in violation of public policy or a statute imposing a criminal penalty.

(b)  The right of a child to support may not be adversely affected by a premarital agreement. History:  L. 1988, ch. 204, § 4; July 1.23-2404

Same; effective, when: A premarital agreement becomes effective upon marriage. History:  L. 1988, ch. 204, § 5; July 1.23-2405

Same; amendment or revocation after marriage: After marriage, a premarital agreement may be amended or revoked only by a written agreement, signed by the parties. The amended agreement or the revocation is enforceable without consideration. History:  L. 1988, ch. 204, § 6; July 1.23-2406

Same; enforceability:

(a) A premarital agreement is not enforceable if the party against whom enforcement is sought proves either of the following:

(1)  That party did not execute the agreement voluntarily; or
(2)  the agreement was unconscionable when such agreement was executed and, before execution of the agreement, all of the following applied to that party:

(A)  Such party was not provided a fair and reasonable disclosure of the property or financial obligations of the other party;
(B)  such party did not voluntarily and expressly waive, in writing, any right to disclosure of the property or financial obligations of the other party beyond the disclosure provided; and
(C)  such party did not have, or reasonably could not have had, an adequate knowledge of the property or financial obligations of the other party.

(b)  If a provision of a premarital agreement modifies or eliminates spousal support and that modification or elimination causes one party to the agreement to be eligible for support under a program of public assistance at the time of separation or marital dissolution, a court, notwithstanding the terms of the agreement, may require the other party to provide support to the extent necessary to avoid that eligibility.
(c)  An issue of unconscionability of a premarital agreement shall be decided by the court as a matter of law. History:  L. 1988, ch. 204, § 7; July 1.23-2407

Same; effect when marriage determined to be void: If a marriage is determined to be void, an agreement that would otherwise have been a premarital agreement is enforceable only to the extent necessary to avoid an inequitable result. History:  L. 1988, ch. 204, § 8; July 123-2408

Same; statute of limitations tolled during marriage; equitable defenses available: Any statute of limitations applicable to an action asserting a claim for relief under a premarital agreement is tolled during the marriage of the parties to the agreement. However, equitable defenses limiting the time for enforcement, including laches and estoppel, are available to either party. History:  L. 1988, ch. 204, § 9; July 123-2409

Uniformity of act: This act shall be applied and construed to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law with respect to the subject of this act among states enacting such act. History:  L. 1988, ch. 204, § 10; July 1.23-810.

Application of act: This act shall apply to premarital agreements executed on or after the effective date of this act. History:  L. 1988, ch. 204, § 11; July 1.23-2411

Advantages of premarital agreements for both parties:

Avoiding Litigation Costs
Protecting against Fears of Family Members
Protecting Family Assets
Protecting Business Assets
Protection Against Creditors
Child Custody and Support Guidlines
Predetermined Disposition of Property

Disclaimer:    This law summary is not legal advice. If you are not an attorney, you should consult an attorney about serious legal matters.