Family Law

Pre-Marital Agreements

Can you be liable for the debts your spouse acquired prior to marriage?

In most states, a spouse is not liable for the pre-marital (or antenuptial) debts of his or her spouse. Most states specifically provide for such in a law. For example, Arkansas law provides: “In all marriages solemnized after February 1, 1899, neither spouse shall be held liable for the antenuptial debts of the other, except by virtue of a written contract.”