Legal Definitions - prenuptial will

Definition: A legal document that directs how a person's estate will be distributed after their death, which is executed before marriage.

Example: John creates a prenuptial will before marrying Jane. In the will, he specifies that his estate will be divided equally between his two children from a previous marriage. If John had not created a prenuptial will and died without a will, Jane would have been entitled to a portion of his estate as his surviving spouse.

Explanation: The example illustrates how a prenuptial will can be used to ensure that a person's assets are distributed according to their wishes, even if they die after getting married. Without a prenuptial will, the surviving spouse may have a legal claim to a portion of the deceased's estate, which could conflict with the deceased's intentions.