Court Opinion

ID: 9570429
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:23:06.540295+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:07:50.504046
License: Public Domain

Herd, J.,
dissenting: I would hold the antenuptial agreement *325between Raymond Adams and Sandra Adams voidable as having been obtained by duress and coercion. Duress is the wrongful act of one person which compels the assent of another to a transaction without his or her volition and thus prevents the formation of a binding contract. That occurred in this case. Sandra submitted a proposed antenuptial contract to her attorney for independent advice. Her lawyer advised Sandra not to sign the contract. Sandra told Raymond that contract was not satisfactory. Nothing more was said about an antenuptial contract until an hour before the wedding in Maple Hill. Sandra had come from New Mexico. She was dressing for the wedding. The wedding plans were all set. Under these circumstances, Raymond came to his mother’s house where Sandra was staying. There, Raymond advised Sandra they were going to his office to sign the antenuptial agreement, which Sandra had previously rejected; otherwise there would be no wedding. To avoid embarrassment, humiliation, and a quarrel Sandra signed the agreement. Raymond’s threat of “no wedding” coupled with all the surrounding circumstances overcame the will of Sandra. There was no meeting of the minds. I would set the contract aside.