Private Wealth /

Prenuptial Agreements

Our experienced family solicitors have a wealth of experience in drafting legally robust and effective prenuptial agreements. With our help, you can have peace of mind knowing that, if the worst comes to worst, you have the financial support and certainty you need.

Make an enquiryMeet the teamPrenuptial Agreements

Prenuptial Agreements
  • Key contact

    Toby Yerburgh

    Toby Yerburgh

    Partner - Head of Family Law

    ArrowView profile

  • The Team

    Our lawyers have the expertise and experience to provide you with creative, personalised solutions in a clear and understandable way.

    ArrowMeet the team

  • Find out where you stand

    Answer questions online and receive free, instant and personalised information about your situation.

    ArrowGet Started now

  • Learn more about pre and post nups

    In this short video Head of Family law at Collyer Bristow, Toby Yerburgh, provides a detailed guide on everything you need to know ahead of completing a pre nup or post nup.

    ArrowWatch video

About

What is a prenuptial agreement?

A prenuptial agreement or ‘prenup’ is a legal document drawn up between two people before they get married. It sets out the division of assets, property, income and debts in the event of a breakdown of the marriage.

What is the purpose of a prenuptial agreement?

The main purpose of a prenuptial agreement is to provide certainty regarding how your wealth will be divided should you get divorced. Having an agreement in place means you can control your individual entitlements rather than leaving it to the discretion of the courts.

Typical reasons for entering into a prenup include:

  • Protecting an inheritance
  • Protecting wealth or specific assets you want your children to inherit
  • Allowing one person to retain control of their business
  • Protection from your partner’s debt
  • Ensuring you both have a say in how finances will be divided if the relationship breaks down

Why should you have one?

Prenuptial agreements are more likely to be put in place when one partner has more assets than the other. For example, those with a business ownership, property portfolio or large inheritance may want to protect their assets from division in the event of a divorce. Couples who are entering second marriages and those marrying in later life also may choose to sign a prenup as a way of protecting their pensions and the inheritance of their children.

Anyone can enter into a prenup, however, and for any reason. If you’re entering into a civil partnership, your solicitor can draw up a pre-registration agreement in the same way.

Are prenuptial agreements legally binding in the UK?

Premarital agreements are not legally binding in the UK. However, the court will accept them as evidence of a couple’s intentions as long as both parties received legal advice when they made the agreement, both parties were honest about their financial situation before the agreement was formed and as long as they are regarded by the Court as ‘fair’ and meeting their needs and the needs of their children.

A prenup should be signed at least 28 days before the marriage or civil partnership. It’s important to speak with a specialist solicitor as soon as you can to ensure the agreement is robust enough to stand up in Court.

What’s included in a prenuptial agreement?

Prenuptial agreements are bespoke documents and can be tailored to your exact requirements. Some are incredibly detailed and will include an inventory of every asset you own, with details on how you wish for them to be divided should you divorce.

The best place to start is to create a list of your respective property, assets, income, savings, bank accounts, stocks, pension pots, inheritance and business interests. Then, with the help of a solicitor, work out what should happen to each asset line by line. You can also include arrangements for future income and assets you acquire.

What cannot be included in a prenup?

While a wide range of financial matters can be included in a prenup, there are some issues that you cannot include. These include any provisions that relate to child arrangements or maintenance arrangements that are not in the child’s best interests and distributions that are fraudulent or patently unfair. An unjust prenup that leaves one party out in the cold is likely to be thrown out by the Court.

Our experienced family solicitors have a wealth of experience in drafting legally robust and effective prenuptial agreements. With our help, you can have peace of mind knowing that, if the worst comes to worst, you have the financial support and certainty you need.

Answer questions online and receive free, instant and personalised information about your situation.

Prenuptial Agreements insights

View all insights

Back

Need some more information? Make an enquiry below



    Prenuptial Agreements key contacts

    Prenuptial Agreements

    Prenuptial Agreements

    Prenuptial Agreements

    Our experienced family solicitors have a wealth of experience in drafting legally robust and effective prenuptial agreements. With our help, you can have peace of mind knowing that, if the worst comes to worst, you have the financial support and certainty you need.

    • Key contact

      Toby Yerburgh

      Toby Yerburgh

      Partner - Head of Family Law

      ArrowView profile

    • The Team

      Our lawyers have the expertise and experience to provide you with creative, personalised solutions in a clear and understandable way.

      ArrowMeet the team

    • Find out where you stand

      Answer questions online and receive free, instant and personalised information about your situation.

      ArrowGet Started now

    • Learn more about pre and post nups

      In this short video Head of Family law at Collyer Bristow, Toby Yerburgh, provides a detailed guide on everything you need to know ahead of completing a pre nup or post nup.

      ArrowWatch video

    What is a prenuptial agreement?

    A prenuptial agreement or ‘prenup’ is a legal document drawn up between two people before they get married. It sets out the division of assets, property, income and debts in the event of a breakdown of the marriage.

    What is the purpose of a prenuptial agreement?

    The main purpose of a prenuptial agreement is to provide certainty regarding how your wealth will be divided should you get divorced. Having an agreement in place means you can control your individual entitlements rather than leaving it to the discretion of the courts.

    Typical reasons for entering into a prenup include:

    • Protecting an inheritance
    • Protecting wealth or specific assets you want your children to inherit
    • Allowing one person to retain control of their business
    • Protection from your partner’s debt
    • Ensuring you both have a say in how finances will be divided if the relationship breaks down

    Why should you have one?

    Prenuptial agreements are more likely to be put in place when one partner has more assets than the other. For example, those with a business ownership, property portfolio or large inheritance may want to protect their assets from division in the event of a divorce. Couples who are entering second marriages and those marrying in later life also may choose to sign a prenup as a way of protecting their pensions and the inheritance of their children.

    Anyone can enter into a prenup, however, and for any reason. If you’re entering into a civil partnership, your solicitor can draw up a pre-registration agreement in the same way.

    Are prenuptial agreements legally binding in the UK?

    Premarital agreements are not legally binding in the UK. However, the court will accept them as evidence of a couple’s intentions as long as both parties received legal advice when they made the agreement, both parties were honest about their financial situation before the agreement was formed and as long as they are regarded by the Court as ‘fair’ and meeting their needs and the needs of their children.

    A prenup should be signed at least 28 days before the marriage or civil partnership. It’s important to speak with a specialist solicitor as soon as you can to ensure the agreement is robust enough to stand up in Court.

    What’s included in a prenuptial agreement?

    Prenuptial agreements are bespoke documents and can be tailored to your exact requirements. Some are incredibly detailed and will include an inventory of every asset you own, with details on how you wish for them to be divided should you divorce.

    The best place to start is to create a list of your respective property, assets, income, savings, bank accounts, stocks, pension pots, inheritance and business interests. Then, with the help of a solicitor, work out what should happen to each asset line by line. You can also include arrangements for future income and assets you acquire.

    What cannot be included in a prenup?

    While a wide range of financial matters can be included in a prenup, there are some issues that you cannot include. These include any provisions that relate to child arrangements or maintenance arrangements that are not in the child’s best interests and distributions that are fraudulent or patently unfair. An unjust prenup that leaves one party out in the cold is likely to be thrown out by the Court.

    Our experienced family solicitors have a wealth of experience in drafting legally robust and effective prenuptial agreements. With our help, you can have peace of mind knowing that, if the worst comes to worst, you have the financial support and certainty you need.

    Answer questions online and receive free, instant and personalised information about your situation.

    Prenuptial Agreements Publications

    Prenuptial Agreements insights

    View all insights

    Need some more information? Make an enquiry below.

      Subscribe

      Please add your details and your areas of interest below

      Specialist sectors:

      Legal services:

      Other information:

      Jurisdictions of interest to you (other than UK):



      Message us on WhatsApp (calling not available)

      Please note that Collyer Bristow provides this service during office hours for general information and enquiries only and that no legal or other professional advice will be provided over the WhatsApp platform. Please also note that if you choose to use this platform your personal data is likely to be processed outside the UK and EEA, including in the US. Appropriate legal or other professional opinion should be taken before taking or omitting to take any action in respect of any specific problem. Collyer Bristow LLP accepts no liability for any loss or damage which may arise from reliance on information provided. All information will be deleted immediately upon completion of a conversation.

      I accept Close

      Close
      Scroll up

      Get in touch

      Get in touch using our form below.



        Business Close
        Private Wealth Close
        Hot Topics Close