What is the cost of getting a Prenup signed?

Is a Prenuptial Agreement worth it?

If you have significant assets, a prenuptial agreement is likely a sensible decision should your relationship break down. Whilst it may feel like an awkward conversation to have with your partner, the clarity and protection a prenup provides can be invaluable.

A prenup ensures you understand one another’s expectations and protects assets independent of your relationship, such as inheritances, trust funds, and children from previous relationships.

It’s a practical contingency plan because you can never know exactly what the future holds.

When does a prenup make particular sense?

If you’re entering marriage with substantial property equity, perhaps a home worth £300,000 that you purchased years ago, a prenup can ensure this remains protected.

The family law principle established in White v White [2000] confirms that courts aim for fairness in financial settlements, but fairness doesn’t automatically mean equal division when pre-marital assets are involved.

For second marriages, when you have children from a previous relationship, a prenup provides certainty on how assets will be divided, protecting your children’s inheritance whilst being fair to your new spouse.

Without such an agreement, the court retains wide discretion under section 25 of the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973, which can lead to outcomes you hadn’t anticipated.

Business owners face particular risk without a prenup. Your business could become entangled in divorce proceedings, potentially forcing you to sell or give up equity.

What factors influence the cost of a Prenup?

Here are the key factors that influence how much you’ll pay for a prenup:

• Complexity of Assets: The number and type of assets you possess have the greatest impact on the cost. Drafting an agreement for a couple with a family home and standard savings is far less complex than for a couple with multiple properties, significant investments, and business assets. When dealing with straightforward finances, the drafting process is relatively quick. Complex asset structures involving business interests, investment portfolios, overseas assets, pension funds, or trust funds require substantially more time and expertise, significantly increasing costs with traditional hourly billing.
• Negotiations: The more disagreement there is between you and your partner, the more your solicitors will have to negotiate, leading to higher costs. To keep costs down, it helps if you and your partner have already discussed and agreed on the terms before involving lawyers. A couple in agreement might incur 2 to 3 hours of negotiation time, whilst couples with significant disagreements might require 15 to 20 hours of back and forth. At £300 per hour, that’s the difference between £600 and £6,000 in negotiation costs alone.
• Location: Solicitors’ fees vary by region. A law firm in a large metropolitan area, such as London, will charge higher hourly rates than one in a smaller town. London firms typically charge £300 to £500 per hour for experienced family law solicitors, whilst firms in smaller towns might charge £150 to £300 per hour for equivalent experience. The rise of online solicitor services has disrupted this geographical pricing model, offering fixed fees that don’t vary by region.
• Hourly vs Fixed Fees: Some firms offer a fixed fee for a prenup, providing cost certainty. Other firms charge an hourly rate, which can range from £150 to £450 per hour or more, depending on the solicitor’s seniority and location. The problem with hourly billing is that costs can escalate significantly if negotiations become protracted or circumstances prove more complex than initially apparent. At Divorce-Online, we offer a fixed fee prenuptial agreement online, covering all consultations, drafting, revisions, and independent legal advice for both parties.

How long does it take to draft a Prenup?

If all the relevant information is prepared, evidenced, and agreed upon, a prenup can be drafted quickly, potentially within a week for the initial draft. However, complications and negotiations usually extend the process to at least a couple of weeks, often longer.

For straightforward cases with cooperative parties, expect 4 to 8 weeks from initial consultation to signing. Complex cases with substantial assets or disagreements can take 3 to 6 months.

A rushed agreement could be deemed less valid by the court. Courts are particularly suspicious of prenups signed shortly before marriage, viewing them as potentially coerced.

The case of SA v PA (Pre-Nuptial Agreement) [2014] noted that whilst there’s no specific time requirement in law, agreements signed very close to the wedding date may suggest insufficient time for reflection and proper consideration.

Ensure your prenup is completed at least 28 days before marriage, ideally longer.

This demonstrates that both parties had adequate time to review and seek legal advice on the agreement. Starting the process at least six months before your wedding removes pressure and usually results in better terms for both parties.

Can you get a Prenup online?

Yes, and it’s often the most cost-effective way to obtain a prenuptial agreement in the UK, provided that it’s handled by qualified solicitors.

There’s a crucial distinction between DIY prenup template services and professional online solicitor services. DIY templates are dangerous and often worthless in court.

However, online services staffed by qualified solicitors, such as Divorce-Online, provide the same legal protection as high-street firms at a fraction of the cost.

Why you should avoid DIY templates at all costs

Basic template websites that simply provide documents without legal advice are fundamentally flawed. These templates cannot account for your unique circumstances. Many templates are written for US or Australian law, including provisions that don’t work under UK law.

Most critically, without documented independent legal advice for both parties, courts may disregard template prenups entirely.

The Radmacher principles are clear: both parties must have entered into the agreement with full appreciation of its implications. Without legal advice, proving this becomes virtually impossible.

Why online prenup services are often the best solution

Services like Divorce-Online are handled by qualified solicitors who provide genuine independent legal advice. You’re not getting a template; you’re getting professional legal services delivered efficiently online.

Our fixed-fee online prenuptial agreement, priced at £799, includes a professional consultation with qualified solicitors, bespoke drafting tailored to your specific circumstances, independent legal advice for one party, and revisions and amendments to the agreement.

Transparent fixed costs mean no surprise bills. You can handle consultations and communication at times that suit you, without needing to take time off work for office appointments.

Most importantly, you receive the independent legal advice both parties need for the prenup to be enforceable.

The temptation with cheap DIY prenup templates is understandable, but the money saved initially evaporates when your template fails to hold up in court.

Investing in proper legal services, whether through high-street solicitors at £2,000 or more or online solicitors at £799, ensures your prenup actually works when you need it.