A woman who moved from China to Kentucky on a fiance visa and signed a prenuptial agreement just 11 days after arriving in the United States has lost her attempt to overturn the agreement following her divorce.
asserted
who → move → divorce
Yuancong Zhang challenged the agreement with her former husband, Stuart M Chen, whose disclosed assets exceeded $1 million, compared with her approximately $39,000.
asserted
assets → challenge → 39,000
Zhang argued that she had signed the document under pressure and did not fully understand its terms because of her limited English.
asserted
she → argue → English
However, the Kentucky Court of Appeals upheld the agreement on Friday, finding no reason to overturn the family court's earlier decision.
asserted
Court → uphold → decision
According to the
judgment, the couple met in 2008, when Zhang lived in China.
uncertain
Zhang → accord → China
After several years together, they decided to marry.
asserted
they → decide → years
Before the wedding, Chen hired a lawyer in Kentucky to prepare an agreement that would protect his property for his two children.
asserted
that → hire → children
One of his children was permanently disabled and required lifelong care.
asserted
One → disable → care
The agreement stated that both Zhang and Chen would keep the property they owned before marriage, along with any property later acquired in their individual names.
asserted
they → state → names
It also prevented either spouse from claiming a share in the increase in value of the other's property, financial support after divorce or certain benefits following the other's death.
asserted
It → prevent → death
Chen gave Zhang the document in January 2015, months before she travelled to the United States.
asserted
she → give → States
According to court records, he advised her on at least three occasions to have it translated into Chinese and explained it to her.
uncertain
it → accord → her
Zhang arrived in Kentucky in July 2015, signed the agreement 11 days later and married Chen that September.
asserted
Zhang → arrive → Chen
Why Zhang challenged the agreement
asserted
Zhang → challenge → agreement
The marriage continued until 2023, when Chen filed for divorce and asked the court to enforce the prenuptial agreement.
asserted
Chen → continue → agreement
Zhang opposed it, arguing that the circumstances in which she signed the document were unfair and that enforcing it would leave her struggling financially.
asserted
enforcing → oppose → her
At a hearing in April 2024, Zhang said the agreement had been presented to her in English, a language in which she was not proficient.
asserted
she → say → which
She argued that Chen had failed to provide a Chinese translation or arrange legal representation for her.
asserted
Chen → argue → her
She also pointed to her immigration situation.
asserted
She → point → situation
Zhang had entered the country on a K-1 fiance visa, which required her to marry Chen within 90 days or return to China.
asserted
which → enter → China
She claimed that because the marriage depended on signing the agreement, she had little meaningful choice.
asserted
she → claim → choice
Her financial position had also changed after moving to the United States.
asserted
position → change → States
Before marriage, Zhang had worked as a journalist in China for 16 years.
asserted
Zhang → work → years
She was 46 at the time and, according to her testimony, had been four years away from qualifying for retirement there.
uncertain
She → accord → retirement
Zhang did not work during the marriage until Chen filed for divorce.
asserted
Chen → work → divorce
She told the court that her long absence from employment and limited English made finding work difficult.
asserted
finding → tell → work
She eventually secured a part-time supermarket job paying approximately $100 a week and said she was applying for public assistance.
asserted
she → secure → assistance
Why court rejected her arguments
The Madison Family Court ruled in October 2024 that the agreement was valid and enforceable.
asserted
agreement → reject → October
It subsequently applied the agreement when granting the divorce in December that year.
asserted
It → apply → December
Zhang appealed, but the appeals court agreed with the earlier decision.
asserted
court → appeal → decision
It noted that she had received the document approximately six months before signing it and had been repeatedly advised to seek a translation or explanation.
asserted
she → note → translation
The judges said the family court had found that Zhang had sufficient time, resources and ability to obtain help understanding the agreement but had chosen not to do so.
asserted
Zhang → say → agreement
The court also rejected her argument that making the marriage conditional on signing the agreement amounted to unlawful pressure.
asserted
marriage → reject → pressure
It explained that prenuptial agreements are permitted under Kentucky law and that insisting on such an agreement before marriage did not, by itself, establish duress.
asserted
insisting → explain → duress
Another issue was whether Zhang should receive financial support after divorce.
asserted
Zhang → receive → divorce
She argued that her age, limited English and employment difficulties meant she could not adequately support herself.
uncertain
she → argue → herself
However, the court found that the financial difference between the couple had existed when they married and had not materially changed during their relationship.
asserted
they → find → relationship
What judges said about her financial situation
The family court had found that Chen was retired, supported his disabled adult son and lived on his retirement assets.
asserted
Chen → say → assets
Zhang had a journalism degree, had recently begun working and still appeared to have some savings in China.
asserted
Zhang → have → China
Although Zhang claimed she had been homeless for a period after separation, the court noted that Chen had allowed her to return to his home and supported her until she found employment and an apartment.
asserted
she → claim → employment
…and 4 more, not listed.
The Aporia
