Prenuptial Agreements

A prenuptial agreement, or prenup, is a legal agreement that you sign before you get married or enter into a civil partnership. It details your individual assets and sets out exactly how those assets will be divided if your relationship ends. It can also be used to agree the division of household finances during your relationship, such as mortgage payments and bills.

Although a prenuptial agreement may not be uppermost in your mind when you are about to get married, it could make the financial settlement process much easier – and cheaper – in the event of separation or divorce.

Why should I get a prenup?

There are various circumstances in which a prenup is advisable. You or your partner may have an inheritance, either now or in the future, that you wish to protect, or you may have assets or property that would be very difficult to divide between the parties.

Another reason some people opt for a prenuptial agreement is because they have children from a previous relationship and want to make sure certain assets will be reserved for them, thus protecting their inheritance rights.

If one partner has outstanding debt, a prenup with a debt clause can protect the other partner from liability.

What if we're already married – can I get a prenup retrospectively?

A post-nuptial agreement, or ‘post-nup’, is another option if you are already married and want to ensure the same financial protection or need to update the terms of your existing prenuptial agreement.