Our own SuAnne Hardee Bryant just won a significant case before the Virginia Court of Appeals, and the ruling has important lessons for anyone with a premarital agreement.
In the case, the court upheld a premarital agreement in which a husband had waived his right to a share of his wife’s estate six weeks prior to their marriage in 2000. When she passed away in 2023, he sought to claim a portion of her $17 million estate, arguing the agreement was signed under duress and obtained by fraud. The court disagreed, finding the agreement was voluntarily executed and fully enforceable. SuAnne noted that while premarital agreements come up often in divorce cases, few deal with spousal waivers in the context of estate administration, making this a notable ruling for Virginia estate law.
The big takeaway? Premarital agreements aren’t just about divorce. The language you agree to today can determine what happens to your estate and your loved ones after you’re gone. Review these agreements carefully with an attorney before signing!
SuAnne Hardee Bryant Represents Winning Estate in Virginia Court of Appeals
Our own SuAnne Hardee Bryant just won a significant case before the Virginia Court of Appeals, and the ruling has important lessons for anyone with a premarital agreement.
In the case, the court upheld a premarital agreement in which a husband had waived his right to a share of his wife’s estate six weeks prior to their marriage in 2000. When she passed away in 2023, he sought to claim a portion of her $17 million estate, arguing the agreement was signed under duress and obtained by fraud. The court disagreed, finding the agreement was voluntarily executed and fully enforceable. SuAnne noted that while premarital agreements come up often in divorce cases, few deal with spousal waivers in the context of estate administration, making this a notable ruling for Virginia estate law.
The big takeaway? Premarital agreements aren’t just about divorce. The language you agree to today can determine what happens to your estate and your loved ones after you’re gone. Review these agreements carefully with an attorney before signing!
This case was reported by Eric T. Berkman in Virginia Lawyers Weekly, April 13, 2026. The full article is available to subscribers at https://valawyersweekly.com/
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