Legal Question in Family Law in Tennessee

Assets and liabilites accumulated prior to marraige

Can you please tell me how the laws for the State of Tennessee are written regarding a persons assests and liabilities prior to marraige. I am engaged currently with accumulated assets in my name. My future partner has many liabilities in his name, when we marry does everything, good or bad, become both of ours, i.e., would he own half of my house, 401-k, etc and would I own his past tax and other financial obligations. Are there any ways to protect oneself without a prenuptial? For instance, if the house remains only in my name, does it solely belong to me?


Asked on 3/17/98, 4:20 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Jes Beard Jes Beard, Attorney at Law

Assets and liabilites accumulated prior to marraige

You can find the statute stating "the law" by searching for TCA 36-4-121 at the following website: (Hopefully the site is working -- it's down much of the time.But I'm betting you will not be able to answer your question after reading the statute.Generally speaking debts AND property from prior to the marriage remain seperate property, but the matter is complex, fluid and varies considerably from judge to judge.But there are ways to take YOUR assets out of the picture.Give me a call to discuss them. I'm generally in the office between 5 and 6:30pm Eastern each evening -- after anything in court and before leaving for dinner. (You can also often reach me later and earlier, but that time is a pretty safe safe bet.

Read more
Answered on 3/27/98, 12:17 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Family Law, Divorce, Child Custody and Adoption questions and answers in Tennessee