Relationships: Pre & Post-Nuptial Agreements

Should I have a pre or post-nuptial agreement?

What is a pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreement?

Pre-nuptial (before marriage) and post-nuptial (after marriage) agreements can be used to set out the rights and obligations over property and finance if a couple’s marriage or civil partnership is dissolved. It is worth drawing-up a nuptial agreement if:

• One or both partners have children from a previous marriage or relationship. The agreement can be used to protect any money set aside for those children and not treated as a matrimonial asset.
  
  
• To protect assets acquired before marriage, or expected to be received during the marriage but to be kept separate.

Are they legally binding and recognised by the Courts?

These types of agreements are not recognised in statute in England and Wales. However, Courts are more likely to endorse the agreement when:

• Both parties have had independent legal advice about the nuptial agreement

• Both parties have openly disclosed their financial means to each other

• In the case of pre-nuptial agreement, it was signed at least a month before the marriage or civil partnership took place

• The terms of the agreement do not leave one party or any child of the family in financial hardship.

The courts have wide discretion in deciding what financial orders to make on divorce. Although nuptial agreements are not recognised in statute, recent cases notably the famous case of Radmacher v Granatino have shown that the court will tend to accept the terms of a nuptial agreement to be legally binding if it complies with the above conditions.

 

What to consider when drawing-up a pre or post-nuptial agreement?

Timing A pre-nuptial agreement needs to be considered several months before the wedding. If it is left until the last minute there is a risk that the court will reject the terms, in case either party was hurried into signing. A post-nuptial agreement does not suffer the same problems but there is no guarantee that either party will agree to sign it after the marriage

Future events In drawing-up a pre/post-nuptial agreement, consideration must be given to future events that may occur. If one partner is likely to earn significantly more than the other or there are plans for one partner to work part-time or give up work entirely, it is important that the agreement allows for a fair and reasonable distribution of assets otherwise it may be overturned by the court.

Children Pre/post-nuptial agreements should also allow for the needs of any children. If a couple has children now or in the future, or adopts them, and the agreement does not outline what financial arrangements should be made for those children if the couple separate, then the agreement is likely to be unacceptable to the court.

Review It should always be considered whether the agreement should be reviewed at a future date or if there is a major change in circumstances. A review clause can be built into the agreement.

 

It really is essential to get specialist advice from a lawyer to stand the best chance of success. We can help you plan and execute the agreement and support you throughout the process.

Read our Case Study on Pre-Nups

Get in touch today. We want to help.

With offices in Leicester and Market Harborough you can arrange an initial appointment to discuss drawing up a pre/post-nuptial agreement. 

Call 0116 212 1000 for our Leicester Office or 01858 445 480 for our Market Harborough Office. Whichever office you call, someone will be available to assist you.