Prenuptial Agreements Solicitors
Fixed fee prenuptial agreements for your marriage; Drafted with expertise and care.
Prenup Drafting Services
A prenuptial agreement sets out in advance how assets and finances would be divided if a marriage breaks down. Under English law, prenuptial agreements are not automatically binding, but courts give them significant weight where they are properly drafted, both parties have received independent legal advice, and there has been full financial disclosure. The Supreme Court’s decision in Radmacher v Granatino [2010] confirmed that courts should uphold a prenuptial agreement unless it would be unfair to hold the parties to its terms.
Our prenuptial agreement solicitors in London advise clients on whether a prenup is right for their circumstances, what it should cover, and how to ensure it is as robust as possible. We offer fixed fee prenuptial agreement drafting from £2,000, with no hidden costs.
Nuptial Agreements are essentially of 3 types and which one is suitable for your needs depends on timing.
- A prenuptial agreement is one entered into before marriage/civil partnership;
- a postnuptial agreement is one entered into after marriage/civil partnership;
- and a separation agreement as the name suggests, post separation
When is a prenuptial agreement necessary?
A nuptial agreement is more common where there is inequality of financial contribution or if protection is required for a particular asset. It also serves to take the heat out of the breakdown of the marriage by agreeing terms in advance. It provides a means of resolving financial and other problems informally without court intervention, including issues that may arise with financial settlements on divorce.
Nuptial agreements, however, are not ‘legally binding’, and does not achieve the same degree of finality as a court order. However, a prenuptial agreement is very strong evidence of what the involved parties intended their arrangements to be in the event of a separation. Departing from that agreement would need strong reasons. In any event, it is always recommended to enter into one than not to secure your finances and specific other matters.
Can a prenuptial agreement be used for unmarried couples?
No, there is also a cohabitation agreement which is used after a relationship commences, similar to that of a post nuptial agreement with the difference that it is entered into outside of a marriage and is legally binding, in the same way as a contract.
There are rules relating to the validity of each agreement and at Freeman Harris Solicitors in Greenwich, London, we can advise you of your position and draw up the appropriate agreement to suit your family needs.
I have been asked to sign a prenup, what should I do?
We offer a prenuptial agreement review service, which will explain the process to you.
Prenuptial Agreements Team
Rohana Khan
Senior SolicitorRohana works on all legal aspects of relationships, children matters and financial disputes in the Family Law area.Isabel Fisher
SolicitorIsabel assists clients with a variety of family law matters, using her research and legal expertise to help the department deliver fair and effective solutions.
Prenuptial Agreement Fees
Common Prenuptial Agreement Questions
- I am about to get married, should I get a prenuptial (pre-nup) agreement?
A prenuptial agreement is made before a marriage to set out specific outcomes in case of separation. A prenup is useful if
- you’re bringing in considerable wealth or assets into a marriage and want to retain those if the marriage fails
- you have been married before and want to retain your existing property for your children for example
If your marriage has an international aspect, then it’s also worth making a prenuptial agreement as the financial awards can be made against you in foreign countries.
- I don’t have a lot of savings or assets, do I need to make a prenuptial (pre-nup) agreement?
You don’t need to make a prenuptial (pre-nup) agreement if you don’t own substantial finances or assets. If you are expecting to obtain a large amount of money through inheritance, for example, or expect to increase your value considerably then you should look into getting a prenuptial (pre-nup) agreement drawn up.
- Who drafts a prenuptial agreement in London?
Prenuptial agreements must be drafted by a qualified family law solicitor, Rohana Khan. At Freeman Harris Solicitors, our family law team drafts prenuptial agreements for clients across London and throughout England and Wales. We offer fixed fee prenuptial agreement drafting from £2,400 including VAT, with no hidden costs.
- What should a prenuptial (pre-nup) agreement cover?
The prenuptial (pre-nup) agreement should cover:
- assets such as money, shares, investment pension, etc and how they should they be divided;
- Any property you own and who will be entitled to it;
- any ongoing payments (maintenance) to be paid to your partner and for what time period;
- Child maintenance and related expenses
- How much does it cost to have a prenuptial agreement drafted?
At Freeman Harris, prenuptial agreement drafting starts from £2,000 plus VAT (£2,400 total). This is a fixed fee covering advice, drafting, and one round of amendments. There are no hourly billing surprises. Your partner will also need to instruct their own independent solicitor, which is a separate cost.
- How long does it take to draft a prenuptial agreement?
A prenuptial agreement typically takes two to four weeks to draft, review, and finalise, provided both parties have taken independent legal advice and financial disclosure is complete. Courts will generally not uphold an agreement signed within 28 days of the wedding, so we recommend starting the process at least two months before the marriage date.
- What should a prenuptial agreement include?
A well-drafted prenuptial agreement should cover: the division of assets brought into the marriage (including property, savings, investments, and pensions), any anticipated inheritances, arrangements for property acquired during the marriage, provisions for financial support if the marriage ends, and any business interests either party holds. It should be tailored to your specific circumstances rather than based on a template.
- Does a prenuptial agreement need to be drafted by a solicitor to be valid?
Under English law, prenuptial agreements are not automatically binding, but courts give them substantial weight where they meet the criteria set out in Radmacher v Granatino [2010] UKSC 42, as mentioned and referenced above. These criteria include: the agreement was freely entered into, both parties had independent legal advice, there was full financial disclosure, and the agreement is fair. An agreement drafted without legal advice is unlikely to meet these criteria. Freeman Harris can draft the agreement for one party and recommend independent solicitors for the other.
- Can prenuptial agreements be drafted for international couples?
Yes. If either party is a non-UK national or there is an international element to the marriage, a prenuptial agreement is particularly important, as courts in other jurisdictions may have the power to make financial orders against UK assets. Freeman Harris can draft agreements that take cross-border considerations into account and advise on whether parallel agreements in other jurisdictions are advisable.
- Can I get a prenuptial agreement drafted quickly?
We can usually turn around an initial draft within five to seven working days of receiving full instructions and financial disclosure from both parties. However, the full process including independent advice for your partner and any negotiations takes longer. Contact us to discuss your timeline.
- Who should be used to write a prenuptial (pre-nup) agreement?
A solicitor should be used to draft your prenuptial (pre-nup) agreement. The agreement needs to be carefully researches and examined which is why a solicitor is best placed to create it.
It is unlikely that a court would follow a prenuptial agreement if it is very basic, has faults and you haven’t followed proper legal advice.
- Does one prenuptial (pre-nup) agreement cover me and my partner or do we need to have separate agreements?
No. It is important that you and your partner receive independent legal advice. You need to have your own agreement which is then agreed with your partner. As stated above, an incorrect or poorly created prenuptial (pre-nup) agreement will carry no weight in the court.
- I am already married, can I get a prenuptial (pre-nup) agreement made?
Yes, its called a postnuptial (post-nup) agreement, and you can find further information about it in the service profile above.
Contact our Prenuptial Agreements Team
A little about you and what you need will help us with our response.