When Pressure Undermines a Prenup: Lessons from Bates v. Bates

Prenuptial agreements are generally meant to bring certainty to your marriage. However, that’s only the case when they’re entered into freely and fairly. The Florida courts usually give wide latitude to couples who want to decide how their property will be handled if their marriage ends. Those agreements, however, must meet basic requirements for voluntariness, disclosure, and fairness. The case of Bates v. Bates is a prime example. This case shows what happens when those safeguards fail.

Background of the case 

The facts in Bates read like a warning for hurried prenups. The husband, a 41-year-old airline pilot, became engaged to an 18-year-old woman from Colombia. Two days before their wedding, he presented her with a prenuptial agreement written only in English—a language that she barely understood.

According to the wife’s testimony, the husband’s friend translated the document “line by line,” but she couldn’t understand the full meaning. She said she felt pressured to sign because family members had already flown into the states to celebrate their ceremony, and the wedding was scheduled for that weekend. She received no independent legal advice, no meaningful financial disclosure, and no time to review the document.

After several years of marriage, the relationship deteriorated. The husband sought to enforce the prenup. The wife challenged it. She argued that it had been signed under duress and coercion without her informed consent.

The court’s decision

Ultimately, the trial court sided with the former wife. It ruled that the prenuptial agreement was invalid. After weighing the testimony and evidence, the court came to the conclusion that the circumstances under which the agreement was signed exerted undue pressure on the wife, both emotionally and logistically. The prenup had been sprung on the wife at the last minute, with the wedding looming. She was told the wedding would be canceled if she refused to sign. She couldn’t grasp the implications of the contract since it was not written in her native tongue.

The husband appealed. However, the Third District Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court’s decision. In its opinion, the appellate court understood that under Florida law, a valid prenup must be entered into voluntarily, with full understanding, and free of coercion. It made clear that a signature alone doesn’t seal the deal. If the spouse’s free will is overridden by pressure, manipulation, or a lack of informed consent, the agreement can be tossed.

The appellate panel emphasized that the trial court’s findings were supported by competent, substantial evidence. Due to this, the judgment striking down the prenup remained intact.

Talk to a Largo, FL, Family Law Attorney Today 

If you’re getting married and considering a prenup, the Largo family law attorneys at Cairns Law, P.A., can help you through the process. Call our Largo family lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin discussing your next steps right away.

Source:

caselaw.findlaw.com/court/fl-district-court-of-appeal/2109699.html