Legal Definitions - marital settlement agreement

A marital settlement agreement is a written contract between two people who are getting a divorce. This agreement outlines their responsibilities and rights after the divorce is finalized. Once both parties sign the agreement, they are legally bound to it. If one person does not follow the agreement, the other can take legal action to enforce it.

The agreement can cover many different things, such as:

• Child custody
• Child visitation
• Child and spousal support
• Division of property and debts

For example, if a couple getting divorced has children, they might use a marital settlement agreement to decide who will have custody of the children and how much child support will be paid.

It's important to note that once the agreement is signed, it cannot be changed unless both parties agree to the changes. However, matters related to child support can be modified under certain circumstances, such as a significant change in income.

If the agreement is found to be unfair or the result of fraud or duress, it may be considered invalid by the court.

Overall, a marital settlement agreement is a way for divorcing couples to come to an agreement on important issues and avoid a lengthy court battle.