Fill and Sign the You Have Requested that We Advise You with Respect to a Proposed Ante Nuptial Agreement to Be Form

Instruction: This is a model letter. Adapt to fit your facts and circumstances. __ _____ ___ , 2 0 ___ P E R SO NAL & C O NFID EN TIA L Re: _ __________ ________ ____ ___________ _______ ___D ear _ __________ _______ _____ ___________ ______ ____Y ou h av e r e q ueste d t h at w e a d vis e y ou w ith r e sp ect t o a p ro pose d a n te -n uptia l a g re em en t t o b e ne g otia te d i n a n tic ip atio n o f y our u pco m in g m arria g e t o _ _______ ( h ere in afte r " _ _______").In t h e t y pic al c ase , t h e a g re e m en t w ould r e fle ct t h at i n dep en den t c o unse l w ith r e sp ect t o c erta in matte rs h as a d vis e d t h e p artie s. I n g en era l, t h ose m atte rs i n clu de t h e r ig hts , w hic h y ou w ould h av e, in t h e a b se n ce o f t h e A nte n up tia l A gre em en t, i n t h e e v en t o f y our m arria g e t o _ _______ a n d h er/h is su bse q uen t d eath p rio r t o y o urs , y our r ig hts d urin g t h e m arria g e, a n d y our r ig hts i n t h e e v en t o f te rm in atio n o f t h e m arria g e o th er t h an b y d eath .I. Rig hts u nder L aw i n t h e E ven t o f M arria g e a n d H er/H is S ubse q uen t D eath . In str u ctio n : T his f o rm w as o rig in ally d esig n ed f o r M in neso ta , a n d c o vers r ele v an t is su es i n d eta il. U sin g t h is l e tte r a s a m od el, y ou m ust i n se rt t h e a p pro p ria te l a w f r o m you r s ta te o n t h e s a m e i s su es.U nder t h e l a w s o f M in neso ta , i n t h e e v en t o f y our m arria g e t o _ _______ a n d h er/h is su bse q uen t d eath , y o ur r ig hts , i n t h e a b se n ce o f t h e A nte n uptia l A gre em en t, w ould b e a s fo llo w s:A . Under M in n eso ta S ta tu es, 525.1 45, i f _ _______ o w ned y our h om este ad a t h er/h is de ath y ou w ould b e e n title d t o t h e h om este ad o utr ig ht i f _ _______ h ad n o s u rv iv in g ch ild o r i s su e o f a n y d ecease d c h ild , o r a l if e e sta te i n t h e h om este ad i f _ _______ were s u rv iv ed b y a c h ild o r c h ild re n o r i s su e o f a d ecease d c h ild o r c h ild re n .B . Under M in n eso ta S ta tu te s, 525.1 5, y o u w ould b e a llo w ed , f ro m t h e p ers o nal pr o perty o f w hic h _ _______ w as p osse sse d o r t o w hic h s h e/h e w as e n title d a t t h e tim e o f h er/h is d eath , h er/h is w earin g a p pare l a n d f u rn itu re a n d h ouse h old g oods se le cte d b y y ou n ot e x ceed in g $ 6,0 00 i n v alu e. I f, e x cep t f o r o ne a u to m obile , a ll o f __ ______ 's p ers o nal e sta te w ere a llo w ed t o y ou u nder t h e f o re g oin g p ro vis io ns, t h en yo u w ould a ls o b e a llo w ed s u ch a u to m obile . - 2 - C. Under M in n eso ta S ta tu te s, 525.1 5, y o u a ls o w ould b e e n title d , d urin g ad m in is tr a tio n, t o a r e aso nab le m ain te n an ce a llo w an ce. D . Und er M in neso ta S ta tu te s, 524.2 -1 01, if _ ____ ___ d ie s in te sta te (w ith out a w ill) , __ ______ 's e sta te , re al a n d p ers o nal (s u bje ct to y our in te re st in th e h om este ad u nder 5 2 4.1 45, th e a llo w an ces p ro vid ed in 525.1 5, a n d th e p ay m en t o f th e e x pen se s o f ad m in is tr a tio n, fu nera l e x pen se s, e x pen se s o f la st illn ess, ta x es a n d d eb ts ), w ould b e dis tr ib ute d a s f o llo w s:(1 ) if t h ere a re n o s u rv iv in g i s su e o f _ _______, h er/h is e n tir e e sta te w ould p ass to y ou ; (2 ) if th ere a re s u rv iv in g is su e o f _ _______ a ll o f w hom a re a ls o is su e o f y ours , yo u w ill r e ceiv e t h e f ir s t $ 70,0 00 o f _ _______'s i n te sta te e sta te p lu s o ne-h alf (1 /2 ) o f t h e b ala n ce;(3 ) if th ere a re s u rv iv in g is su e o f _ __ _____ w ho a re n ot is su e o f y ours , y ou w ill be e n title d t o o ne-h alf ( 1 /2 ) o f t h e i n te sta te e sta te . E . If ________ die s te sta te (w ith a w ill) , under M in neso ta Sta tu te s, 524.2 -2 01 th ro ugh 5 24 .2 -2 07, y ou a re g ra n te d th e r ig ht o f e le ctio n to ta k e a n e le ctiv e s h are o f on e-th ir d (1 /3 ) o f _ _______'s "a u gm en te d esta te ." The au gm en te d esta te is th e esta te : (1 ) re d uced by fu nera l an d ad m in is tr a tio n ex pen se s, th e hom este ad , fa m ily allo w an ces a n d e x em ptio ns, l ie n s, m ortg ag es a n d e n fo rc eab le c la im s, a n d(2 ) in cre ase d b y g if ts m ad e b y _ ____ ___ w here s h e/h e r e ta in ed (a ) th e r ig ht t o e n jo y t h e p ro perty o r i n co m e f ro m t h e p ro perty ,(b ) a p ow er t o r e v oke o r c o nsu m e t h e p ro perty ,(c ) rig ht o f s u rv iv ors h ip , a n d(d ) an y tr a n sfe rs w ith in o ne y ear o f d eath to th e e x te n t tr a n sfe rs e x ceed $30,0 00 t o a n y o ne d onee, a n d (3 ) als o in cre ase d b y th e v alu e o f p ro perty o w ned b y y ou a n d/o r a n y p ro perty tra n sfe rre d b y y ou, to th e e x te n t th e o w ned o r tr a n sfe rre d p ro perty is d eriv ed fro m _ _______. If _ _______ i s n ot d om ic ile d i n t h is s ta te , y our r ig ht t o t a k e a n e le ctiv e s h are i s g overn ed b y t h e l a w of _ _______ 's d om ic ile . - 3 - II. R ig hts D urin g t h e M arria g e u nder M in neso ta L aw . U nder t h e l a w s o f M in neso ta , i n t h e e v en t o f y our m arria g e t o _ _______, y our r ig hts d urin g th e m arria g e, in th e a b se n ce o f th e A nte n uptia l A gre em en t, w ould b e g overn ed p rim arily un der t h e p ro vis io ns o f C hap te r 5 19 o f t h e M in n eso ta S ta tu te s. B y t h e s p ecif ic p ro vis io ns o f Min neso ta S ta tu te s, 519.1 1, S ubd. 7 , th e p ro vis io ns in th at c h ap te r a re n ot to b e c o nstr u ed as a ffe ctin g a n te n up tia l c o ntr a cts o r se ttle m en ts . In th e a b se n ce o f a n y su ch a n te n uptia l co ntr a ct o r s e ttle m en t, t h e p ertin en t p ro vis io ns o f t h at c h ap te r w ould b e a s f o llo w s: A . U nder M in neso ta S ta tu te s, 519.0 2, a ll p ro perty , r e al, p ers o nal a n d m ix ed , a n d all c lo se s i n a ctio n, o w ned b y a n y w om an a t t h e t im e o f h er m arria g e, c o ntin ues t o b e h er s e p ara te pro perty a fte r m arria g e. A ny m arrie d w om an c o ntin ues t o b e e n title d t o r e ceiv e, a cq uir e a n d e n jo y pro perty o f e v ery d esc rip tio n, a n d t h e r e n ts , i s su es a n d p ro fits t h ere o f, a n d a ll a v ails o f h er c o ntr a cts an d i n dustr y , f r e e f ro m t h e c o ntr o l o f h er h usb an d, a n d f ro m a n y l ia b ility o n a cco unt o f h er d eb ts , a s fu lly a s i f s h e w ere u nm arrie d .B . U nder M in neso ta S ta te s, 519.0 5, i t i s s p ecif ic ally p ro vid ed t h at a s p ouse s h all no t b e l ia b le f o r a n y d eb ts o f h is o r h er s p ouse , e x cep t f o r n ecessitie s f u rn is h ed t o a s p ouse a fte r ma rria g e, w here h e o r s h e/h e w ould b e l ia b le a t c o m mon l a w . T hat s e ctio n f u rth er p ro vid es t h at wh ere t h e h usb an d a n d w if e a re l iv in g t o geth er, t h ey a re j o in tly a n d s e v era lly l ia b le f o r a ll n ecessa ry house h o ld a rtic le s a n d s u pp lie s f u rn is h ed t o a n d u se d b y t h e f a m ily .C . U nder M in neso ta S ta tu te s, 519.0 7 , p ro vis io n i s m ad e f o r i n itia tio n o f j u dic ia l pr o ceed in gs, i n t h e e v en t t h at e ith er s p ouse i s d ese rte d b y t h e o th er f o r t h e s p ace o f o ne y ear, t o deb ar t h e d ese rtin g s p ouse 's i n te re st i n o r t o t h e d ese rte d s p ouse 's p ro perty . U pon c o m ple tio n o f t h e ne cessa ry j u dic ia l p ro ceed in g , t h e d ese rte d s p ouse w ou ld h av e f u ll c o ntr o l o ver a n d f u ll a u th ority t o convey h er/h is o r h er/h is p ro perty .D . U nder M in neso ta S ta tu te s 519.0 9, a ll i n ch oate e sta te s o r s ta tu to ry i n te re sts i n lie u o f d ow er a n d c o urte sy i n a ll l a n ds i n M in neso ta c o n vey ed p rio r t o J a n uary 1 , 1 960, b y t h e hu sb an d o r w if e o f t h e o ne e n title d t o s u ch i n ch oate d ow er o r c o urte sy , o r s ta tu to ry i n te re st, b y a co nvey an ce i n w ritin g, a re a b olis h ed . III . R ig hts i n t h e E ven t o f T erm in atio n o f M arria g e O th er T han b y D eath . U nder t h e l a w s o f M in neso ta , i n t h e e v en t o f y our m arria g e t o _ _______ a n d t h e su bse q uen t t e rm in atio n o f t h e m arria g e o th er t h an b y d eath , y our r ig hts w ould b e g overn ed b y t h e pro vis io ns o f C hap te r 5 18 o f t h e M in neso ta S ta tu te s.A . U nder M in neso ta S ta tu te s, 518.1 4, i n a n y p ro ceed in g b ro ught f o r d is so lu tio n of m arria g e o r l e g al s e p ara ti o n, t h e c o urt, f ro m t im e t o t im e, a fte r c o nsid erin g t h e f in an cia l re so urc es o f b o th p artie s, m ay r e q uir e o ne p arty t o p ay a r e aso nab le a m ount n ecessa ry t o e n ab le t h e oth er s p ouse t o c arry o n, o r t o c o nte st t h e p ro ceed in g, a n d t o p ay a tto rn ey 's f e es. T he c o urt m ay ad ju dge c o sts a n d d is b urs e m en ts a g ain st e ith er p arty .B . U nder M in neso ta S ta tu es, 518.1 7, t h e c o urt u pon a d ju dgin g d is so lu tio n o f t h e - 4 - marria g e o r s e p ara tio n, m ay m ak e s u ch f u rth er o rd er a s i t d eem s j u st a n d p ro per c o ncern in g t h e ca re , c u sto dy a n d m ain te n an ce o f m in or c h ild re n o f t h e p artie s g iv in g c o nsid era tio n t o t h e f a cto rs s e t ou t i n 518.1 7. T he c o urt m ay o rd er e ith er o r b oth p are n ts t o p ay a r e aso nab le o r n ecessa ry a m ount fo r s u pport. C . M in neso ta S ta tu te s, 518.5 4, S ubd. 5 , d efin es " m arita l p ro perty " t o i n clu de pro perty , r e al o r p ers o nal, i n clu din g v este d p en sio n b en efits o r r ig hts , a cq uir e d b y t h e p artie s, o r eith er o f t h em , o r a t a n y t im e d urin g w hic h t h e p artie s w ere l iv in g t o geth er a s h usb an d a n d w if e un der a p urp orte d m arria g e r e la tio nsh ip w hic h i s l a te r a n nulle d . A ll p ro perty a cq uir e d b y e ith er sp ouse s u bse q uen t t o t h e m arria g e a n d b efo re a d ecre e o f l e g al s e p ara tio n i s p re su m ed t o b e m arita l pr o perty r e g ard le ss o f w heth er t itle i s h eld i n div id ually o r b y t h e s p ouse s i n a f o rm o f c o -o w ners h ip , su ch a s j o in t t e n an cy , t e n an cy i n c o m mon, t e n an cy b y t h e e n tir e ty , o r c o m munity p ro perty . T he pre su m ptio n o f m arita l p ro p erty i s o verc o m e b y a s h ow in g t h at t h e p ro perty i s o f a t y pe l is te d i n cla u se s ( a ) t o ( e ) b elo w .By s ta tu te , " n on-m arita l p ro perty " i n clu des p ro perty , r e al o r p ers o nal, a cq uir e d b y eith er s p ouse b efo re , d urin g o r a fte r t h e e x is te n ce o f t h eir m arria g e, w hic h (a ) is a cq uir e d a s a g if t, b eq uest, d ev is e o r i n herita n ce m ad e b y a t h ir d party t o o ne b ut n ot t o t h e o th er s p ouse ;(b ) is a cq uir e d b efo re t h e m arria g e;(c ) is a cq uir e d i n e x ch an ge f o r o r i s t h e i n cre ase i n v alu e o f p ro perty wh ic h i s d esc rib ed i n c la u se s ( a ), ( b ), ( d ), a n d ( e );(d ) is a cq uir e d b y a s p ouse a fte r a d ecre e o f l e g al s e p ara tio n; o r(e ) is e x clu ded b y a v alid a n te n uptia l c o ntr a ct ( e m phasis s u pplie d ). D . U nder M in neso ta S ta tu te s, 518.5 5, t h e c o urt i s a u th oriz ed t o d ete rm in e, a s o ne of t h e i s su es o f t h e c ase , w heth er o r n ot e ith er s p ouse i s e n title d t o a n a w ard o f m ain te n an ce no tw ith sta n din g t h at n o a w ard i s t h en m ad e, o r i t m ay r e se rv e j u ris d ic tio n o f t h e i s su e o f ma in te n an ce f o r d ete rm in atio n a t a l a te r d ate .E . U nder M in neso ta S ta tu te s, 518.5 7, u pon d ecre e o f d is so lu tio n, l e g al s e p ara tio n or a n nulm en t, t h e c o urt m ay m ak e s u ch f u rth er o rd er a s i t d eem s j u st a n d p ro perty c o ncern in g t h e ma in te n an ce o f m in or o r d ep en den t c h ild re n .F . U nder M in neso ta S ta tu te s, 518.5 8, u pon d is so lu tio n o f t h e m arria g e, t h e c o urt is r e q uir e d t o m ak e a j u st a n d e q uita b le d is p ositio n o f t h e m arita l p ro perty o f t h e p artie s w ith out re g ard t o m arit a l m is c o nduct, a fte r m ak in g f in din gs r e g ard in g t h e d is p ositio n o f t h e p ro perty .T he c o urt i s t o b ase i ts f in din gs o n a ll r e le v an t f a cto rs i n clu din g t h e l e n gth o f t h e ma rria g e, a n y p rio r m arria g e o f a p arty , t h e a g e, h ealth , s ta tio n, o ccu patio n, a m ount a n d s o urc es o f in co m e, v ocati o nal s k ills , e m plo yab ility , e sta te l ia b ilitie s, n eed s a n d o pportu nitie s f o r f u tu re ac q uis itio n o f c ap ita l a sse ts , t h e a m ount o f s u pport, m ain te n an ce a n d i n co m e o f e ach p arty , w heth er th e p ro perty a w ard i s i n l ie u o f o r i n a d ditio n t o m ain te n an ce o r s u pport. T he c o urt s h all a ls o - 5 - co nsid er t h e c o ntr ib utio n o f e ach i n t h e a cq uis itio n, p re se rv atio n, d ep re cia tio n o r a p pre cia tio n i n t h e am ount o r v alu e o f t h e m arita l p ro perty , a s w ell a s t h e c o ntr ib utio n o f a s p ouse a s a h om em ak er. I t is p re su m ed t h at e ach s p ouse m ad e a s u bsta n tia l c o ntr ib u tio n t o t h e a cq uis itio n o f i n co m e a n d pro perty w hile t h ey w ere l iv in g t o geth er a s h usb an d a n d w if e . T he c o urt m ay a ls o a w ard t o e ith er sp ouse t h e h ouse h old g oods a n d f u rn itu re o f t h e p artie s, w heth er o r n ot a cq uir e d d urin g t h e ma rria g e. If t h e c o urt f in ds t h at e ith er s p ouse 's r e so urc es o r p ro perty , i n clu din g h is o r h er po rtio n o f t h e m arita l p ro perty a s d efin ed i n M in neso ta S ta tu te s, 518.5 4, S ubd. 5 , a re s o inad eq uate a s t o w ork a n u nfa ir h ard sh ip , c o nsid erin g a ll r e le v an t c ir c u m sta n ces, t h e c o urt m ay , i n additio n t o t h e m arita l p ro perty , a p portio n u p t o o ne-h alf ( 1 /2 ) o f t h e p ro perty o th erw is e e x clu ded un der M in neso ta S ta tu te s, 518.5 4, S ubd. 5 , c la u se s ( a ) t o ( d ), t o p re v en t t h e u nfa ir h ard sh ip . I f t h e co urt a p portio ns p ro perty o th er t h an t h e m arita l p ro perty , i t i s r e q uir e d t o m ak e f in din gs i n s u pport of t h e a p portio nm en t. T he l e n gth o f t h e m arria g e, a n y p rio r m arria g e o f a p arty , t h e a g e h ealth , st a ti o n, o ccu patio n, a m ount a n d s o urc es o f i n co m e, v oca tio nal s k ills , e m plo yab ility , e sta te , li a b ilitie s, n eed s a n d o pportu nity f o r f u tu re a cq uis itio n o f c ap ita l a sse ts a n d i n co m e o f e ach p arty . I t i s i m porta n t t o n ote t h at p ro perty d esc rib ed u nder M in neso ta S ta tu es, 518.5 4, Su bd. 5 , c la u se ( 3 ) - -p ro perty e x clu ded b y a n a n te n uptia l a g re em en t- -a p pare n tly m ay n ot b e aw ard ed b y t h e c o urt i n t h e c ase o f u nfa ir h ard sh ip .If t h e c o urt f in ds t h at i t i s n ecessa ry t o p re se rv e t h e m arita l a sse ts o f t h e p artie s, t h e co urt m ay o rd er t h e s a le o f t h e h om este ad o f t h e p artie s o r t h e s a le o f o th er m arita l a sse ts , a s t h e cir c u m sta n ces m ay r e q uir e , d urin g t h e p en den cy o f t h e p ro ceed in g, a n d m ay f u rth er p ro vid e f o r t h e dis p ositio n o f t h e f u nds r e ce iv ed f ro m t h e s a le . IV . Min neso ta L aw A ff e ctin g A nte n uptia l C ontr a cts . S ectio n 5 19.1 1 o f t h e M in neso ta S ta tu te s d eals s p ecif ic ally w ith a n te n uptia l c o ntr a cts . Se ctio n 5 19.1 1, S ubd.1 , p ro vid es t h at a m an a n d w om an o f l e g al a g e m ay e n te r i n to a n a n te n uptia l co ntr a ct o r s e ttle m en t p rio r t o s o le m niz atio n o f m arria g e w hic h s h all b e v alid a n d e n fo rc eab le i f ( a ) t h ere i s a f u ll a n d f a ir d is c lo su re o f t h e e arn in gs a n d p ro perty o f e ach p arty ; a n d (b ) t h e p artie s h av e h ad a n o pportu nity t o c o nsu lt w ith l e g al c o unse l o f t h eir o w n c h oic e. F urth er, i t p ro vid es t h at a n a n te n uptia l c o ntr a ct o r s e ttle m en t m ad e i n c o nfo rm ity w ith t h is s e ctio n may d ete rm in e w hat r ig hts e ach p arty h as i n t h e n on-m arita l p ro perty , d efin ed i n M in neso ta Sta tu te s, 518.5 4, S ubd. 5 , c la u se s ( a ) t h ro ugh ( d ), u pon d is so lu tio n o f m arria g e, l e g al s e p ara tio n or a fte r i ts d is so lu tio n o f m arria g e, l e g al s e p ara tio n o r a fte r i ts t e rm in atio n b y d eath a n d m ay b ar ea ch o th er o f a ll r ig hts i n t h e r e sp ectiv e e sta te s n ot s o s e c u re d b y t h em b y t h eir a g re em en t. S ectio n 5 19.1 1, S ub d. 2 , p ro vid es t h at a n te n uptia l c o ntr a cts o r s e ttle m en ts m ust b e i n writin g, e x ecu te d i n t h e p re se n ce o f t w o w itn esse s a n d a ck now le d ged b y t h e p artie s, e x ecu tin g t h e sa m e u n der t h e l a w s o f t h is s ta te . I t a ls o p ro vid es t h at t h e a g re em en t m ust b e e n te re d i n to a n d ex ecu te d p rio r t o t h e d ay o f s o le m niz atio n o f m arria g e. - 6 - Sectio n 5 19.1 1, S ub d. 3 , p ro vid es t h at a n a n te n uptia l c o ntr a ct o r s e ttle m en t w hic h b y i ts te rm s c o nvey s o r d ete rm in es w hat r ig hts e ach h as i n t h e o th er's r e al p ro perty a n d s e ts f o rth t h e l e g al de sc rip tio n o f t h e r e al e sta te g ra n te d o r a ffe cte d b y t h e a g re em en t m ay b e f ile d o r r e co rd ed i n e v ery co unty w here a n y r e al e sta te s o d esc rib ed i s s itu ate d , i n t h e o ffic e o f t h e c o unty r e co rd er f o r t h e co unty o r i n a n y p ublic o ffic e a u th oriz ed t o r e ceiv e a d eed , a ssig nm en t o r o th er i n str u m en t a ffe ctin g the r e al e sta te , f o r f ilin g o r r e co rd in g.S ectio n 5 19.1 1, S ub d. 4 , p ro vid es t h at a n y a n te n uptia l c o ntr a ct o r s e ttle m en t n ot r e co rd ed i n the o ffic e o f t h e c o unty r e co rd er o r o th er p ublic o ffic e a u th oriz ed t o r e ceiv e t h e d ocu m en t, w here th e r e al p ro perty i s l o cate d , s h all b e v oid a s a g ain st a n y s u bse q uen t p urc h ase r i n g ood f a ith a n d f o r a va lu ab le c o nsid era tio n o f t h e s a m e r e al p ro perty , o r a n y p art t h ere o f, w hose c o nvey an ce i s f ir s t d uly reco rd ed a n d a s a g ain st a n y a tta ch m en t l e v ie d t h ere o n o r a n y j u dgm en t l a w fu lly o bta in ed a t t h e s u it of a n y p arty a g ain st t h e p ers o n i n w hose n am e t h e t itle t o t h e p ro perty a p pears o f r e co rd p rio r t o reco rd in g t h e c o nvey an ce.S ectio n 5 19.1 1, S ub d. 5 , p ro vid es t h at a n a n te n uptia l c o ntr a ct o r s e ttle m en t d uly ack now le d ged a n d a tte ste d s h all b e p rim a f a cie p ro of o t h e m atte rs a ck now le d ged t h ere in a n d a s t o those m atte rs , t h e b urd en o f p ro of s h all b e u pon t h e p ers o n c o nte stin g t h e s a m e. S ubdiv is io n 7 , a s ha s b een p re v io usly i n dic ate d i n t h is l e tte r, p ro vid es t h at n oth in g i n M in neso ta S ta tu te s, 519.0 1 an d 5 19.1 01, s h all b e c o nstr u ed t o a ffe ct a n te n uptia l c o ntr a cts o r s e ttle m en ts .T here h as b een a c o n tr o vers y u nder c u rre n t M in neso ta l a w a s t o t h e e ffe ctiv en ess o f pr o vis io ns o f a n a n te n uptia l a g re em en t w hic h d ete rm in e w hat r ig hts e ach p arty h as i n m arita l pr o perty , d efin ed i n M in neso ta S ta tu te s, 518.5 4, S ubd. 5 . T he s ta tu to ry p ro vis io ns r e la tin g t o ante n uptia l a g re em en ts e x pre ssly p ro vid e t h at M in neso ta S ta tu es 519.1 1 s h all n ot b e c o nstr u ed t o mak e i n v alid o r u nen fo rc eab le a n y a n te n uptia l a g re em en t o r s e ttle m en t m ad e a n d e x ecu te d i n confo rm ity w ith t h is s e ctio n b ecau se t h e a g re em en t o r s e ttle m en t c o vers o r i n clu des m arita l pr o perty , i f t h e a g re em en t o r s e ttle m en t w ould b e v alid a n d e n fo rc eab le w ith out r e g ard t o t h e se ctio n. M ore o ver, M in neso ta S ta tu es 518.5 4, S ubd. 5 , c la u se ( 3 ), s ta te s t h at p ro perty e x clu ded by a v alid a n te n uptia l c o ntr a ct ( p re su m ab ly i n clu din g p ro perty w hic h o th erw is e w ould b e t r e ate d a s ma rita l p ro perty ) s h all b e t r e ate d a s n on-m arita l p ro perty .O n O cto ber 4 , 1 988 , t h e M in neso ta C ourt o f A ppeals h eld i n a c o ntr o vers ia l d ecis io n t h at Mi n neso ta S ta tu te s 519.1 1 p re v en te d p ro sp ectiv e s p ouse s f ro m c o ntr a ctin g w ith r e sp ect t o t h eir ma rita l p ro perty , a n d t h at t h e p ro vis io ns o f a n a n te n uptia l a g re em en t e x ecu te d o n o r a fte r A ugust 1 , 19 79, d ealin g w ith t h e d is p o sitio n o f m arita l p ro perty i n t h e e v en t o f a d is so lu tio n o f t h e m arria g e are u nen fo rc eab le . M cK ee-J o hnso n v . J o hnso n , 4 29 N .W . 2 d 6 89 ( M in n. C t. A pp., O cto ber 4 , 1 9 88). T his d ecis io n w as i n o ur v ie w , a t o dds w ith p re v io us M in neso ta c o m mon l a w , a n d n ot pa rtic u la rly w ell r e aso ned . T he M in neso ta S upre m e C ou rt h as r e cen tly o vertu rn ed t h e C ourt o f Ap peals d ecis io n. M cK ee-J o hnso n v . J o hnso n , 4 44 N .W . 2 d 2 59 ( M in n. S up. C t., A ugust 1 8, 1 9 89). I n i ts d ecis io n, h ow ev er, t h e S upre m e C ourt i n tr o duced a p ro ced ura l f a ir n ess, w hic h i s t o b e ad m in is te re d t o a n a n te n uptia l a g re em en t a t t h e t im e o f e n fo rc em en t. T hus, t o b e e ffe ctiv e, s u ch a n ag re em en t n eed s t o b e f a ir a t t h e t im e i t i s i m possib le t o d ete rm in e a t t h e t im e o f e x ecu tio n w heth er - 7 - an a g re em en t w ill b e a b le t o m eet t h e s u bsta n tiv e f a ir n ess t e st w hen i t i s e n fo rc ed . T hus, t h ere w ill alw ay s b e s o m e r is k t h at a n a n te n uptia l a g re em en t m ay n ot p ass t h e s u bsta n tiv e f a ir n ess t e st in tr o duced b y t h e M in neso ta S upre m e C ourt. - 8 - Afte r y ou h av e r e v ie w ed t h e p ro vis io ns o f t h is l e tte r, I w ill b e a v aila b le t o d is c u ss a n y q uestio ns y ou may h av e c o n cern in g t h e a b ove.Y ours t r u ly ,_ _ _____ __________A tto rn ey a t L aw