On behalf of The Jacks Law Group posted in prenuptial agreements on Wednesday, May 13, 2015.
It seems as though prenuptial agreements are everywhere in the news these days. But nowhere are prenuptial agreements a bigger topic than in stories about celebrity marriage and divorce. Americans are obsessed with the personal lives of celebrities, apparently including their legal documents.
Most of the time, discussions about celebrity divorce serve little purpose beyond idle gossip. But in the case of one celebrity couple who got divorced earlier this year, the prenuptial agreement contained a clause worth mentioning. It ties in nicely with our prenuptial agreements post from earlier this week.
In late 2014, rumors started to spread that singer Mariah Carey was starting divorce proceedings with her then-husband Nick Cannon. Gossip sites like TMZ were full of speculation and hearsay, and there's a good reason why corroborated evidence was difficult to come by: the couple's prenuptial agreement reportedly includes a confidentiality clause.
Details differ based on which source you read, but it appears as though the couple signed an agreement that prohibited either spouse from discussing the couple's private affairs in the media. Doing so would result in a significant fine that reflected each spouse's net worth when the marriage began. If Cannon violated the agreement, he would be fined $250,000, while Carey would be fined $500,000.
A confidentially clause is a smart idea for nearly any high-profile couple. And while the clause was likely valuable during the marriage itself, it must have been even more valuable during the divorce. It is far too easy for couples to start badmouthing one another during a contentious divorce, particularly when they always have access to eager reporters.
Not everyone needs a confidentiality clause, of course, but the point remains that prenuptial agreements can largely be customized to fit the needs and desires of each couple. If you are considering a prenuptial agreement prior to your own wedding, please contact an experienced family law attorney.
Source: Inquisitr, “Carey, Cannon Prenuptial Agreement Has A ‘No-Talking' Clause Attached,” Jan. 17, 2015
