SB 160 Michigan Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Family law: marriage and divorce; uniform premarital and marital agreements act; create. Creates new act.

This bill creates Michigan's "Uniform Premarital and Marital Agreements Act," establishing clear rules for premarital (before marriage) and marital (during marriage) agreements. It requires such agreements to be in writing and signed by both parties to be enforceable, and they cannot be enforced if signed under unfair pressure, such as threats to cancel a wedding. The law also determines which state's laws apply to these agreements, either the one chosen by the couple or Michigan law. This act directly affects couples who use these agreements to define financial rights and responsibilities during marriage or in the event of divorce.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 18, 2025 Last action May 7, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

As Passed by the Senate → Substitute (S-1) · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill text shows minor formatting and spacing adjustments rather than substantive policy changes. The core legal content regarding premarital and marital agreements remains the same, with only visual alignment and document metadata being modified.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting adjustments to spacing and indentation throughout the document, including changes to header alignment and section numbering presentation.

Updated document tracking numbers and version identifiers in the footer sections, changing from 'ebafvs' to 'a5mgpv' and adjusting spacing around the bill identifier.

Senate Introduced Bill → As Passed by the Senate · 9 edits · May 7, 2025

MAJOR

This bill transforms from a simple introduction to a comprehensive uniform premarital and marital agreements act. It adds detailed definitions, enforcement rules, and protections for parties signing agreements, including requirements for independent legal representation and financial disclosure.

Scope change

The bill now applies to agreements signed on or after the effective date, while preserving rights under agreements signed before that date. It explicitly excludes agreements requiring court approval or those signed during pending dissolution proceedings.

DEFINITION

Added comprehensive definitions for key terms including duress (now includes humiliating or unreasonable threats), marital agreement, premarital agreement, property, record, sign, and state.

REQUIREMENT

Requires premarital and marital agreements to be in writing and signed by both parties, and states they are enforceable without consideration.

Mandates specific notice language about rights being waived and requires adequate financial disclosure of property, liabilities, and income before signing.

ENFORCEMENT

Establishes conditions under which agreements are unenforceable, including involuntary consent, duress, lack of independent legal representation, and inadequate financial disclosure.

Allows courts to refuse enforcement of unconscionable terms or terms causing substantial hardship due to material changes in circumstances after signing.

Protects children's rights to support and prevents agreements from limiting remedies for domestic violence victims or penalizing parties for initiating legal proceedings.

TIMELINE

Changed effective date to 6 months after the act's effective date, allowing time for public awareness and implementation.

Establishes statute of limitations rules, tolling during marriage while allowing equitable defenses like laches and estoppel.

SCOPE

Added provisions for void marriages, stating agreements remain enforceable to avoid inequitable results.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 7, 2025

Committee

referred to Committee on Judiciary

lower

May 7, 2025

Introduced

received on 05/07/2025

lower

May 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

PASSED ROLL CALL # 79 YEAS 22 NAYS 13 EXCUSED 2 NOT VOTING 0

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

SUBSTITUTE (S-1) CONCURRED IN

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

REPORTED BY COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FAVORABLY WITH SUBSTITUTE (S-1)

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

REPORTED FAVORABLY WITHOUT AMENDMENT 4/17/2025

upper

Mar 18, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS, JUDICIARY, AND PUBLIC SAFETY

upper

Mar 18, 2025

Introduced

INTRODUCED BY SENATOR SUE SHINK

upper

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors