Pre and Post-Nuptial Agreement Solicitors
If you want to agree in advance how your assets will be dealt with if your marriage ends, our Family Law Solicitors can draft your pre or post-nuptial agreement and advise you on how its terms could impact you in the future.
Marriage is a legal relationship with financial consequences, especially around finances, that most people do not fully consider until that relationship is under strain. A pre-nuptial or post-nuptial agreement gives both parties the opportunity to set out clearly how assets will be divided if the marriage breaks down. Properly prepared, with independent legal advice for both parties and full financial disclosure, these agreements carry real weight with English courts and can significantly reduce the cost, uncertainty, and conflict of any future financial proceedings.
Law Lane Solicitors was founded in 2015 and operates from offices in Stratford, High Holborn, and Croydon. We hold a Family Law accreditation from the Law Society. This illustrates our Family Law Solicitors’ skill, legal knowledge, and determination to achieve the best results possible.
Nuptial agreements require independent legal advice for each party. We can advise one party directly and collaborate efficiently with counsel advising the other or recommend a firm to advise your partner where that arrangement is preferred. Our Trustpilot rating of 4.95 from over 1,200 client reviews reflects the quality and care we bring to every matter we manage.
Our Pre and Post-Nuptial Agreement Services
We advise and act on the full range of nuptial agreement matters, including:
- Pre-nuptial agreements, negotiated and documented before the marriage ceremony, addressing the division of assets, property, savings, and business interests on separation or divorce under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973.
- Post-nuptial agreements, prepared after the marriage has taken place, have the same legal function as a pre-nuptial agreement and are particularly common following a significant change in financial circumstances.
- Separation agreements for couples who are separating but are not yet divorcing, recording the financial and practical arrangements between them.
- Independent legal advice appointments for parties signing nuptial agreements prepared by another firm, ensuring the independent advice requirement is properly met.
- Review of existing pre-nuptial agreements, advising whether an agreement prepared some years ago remains appropriate given changes in circumstances.
- Agreements covering inherited assets, business interests, or pre-marital property that one or both parties want to ring-fence from any future financial claims.
- Agreements for couples with assets in more than one jurisdiction, drafted to maximise the prospect of recognition in the relevant countries.
- Advice on the interaction between a nuptial agreement and any future financial remedy proceedings, including the circumstances in which a court might depart from its terms.
Why Choose Law Lane for Nuptial Agreements?
A nuptial agreement is only as good as the process by which it was made. Courts will scrutinise whether both parties had independent legal advice, whether there was full financial disclosure, whether the agreement was signed at an appropriate time before the wedding, and whether the terms were fair at the time of signing. Our Family Law Solicitors understand precisely how the Family Court examines these agreements and the terms a well-drafted document needs to contain.
We draft nuptial agreements with clarity and precision. We do not produce template documents. Every agreement we prepare reflects the specific assets, circumstances, and intentions of the parties involved, and every client receives direct, practical legal advice from a solicitor who has taken the time to understand their circumstances.
Please get in touch today to discuss your situation with complete confidence. Phone: 020 7870 4870 or email: info@lawlanesolicitors.co.uk
Law Lane Solicitors is proud to be accredited under The Law Society’s Immigration and Asylum Accreditation.
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“I had an amazing experience working with these solicitors. They helped me through every process, wanting the best for me. Everything was simple and easy , with the best communication. Truly an amazing team to work with. Very professional and stick to their word.” – AM – Trustpilot
Frequently Asked Questions – Pre and Post-Nuptial Agreements
Are pre-nuptial agreements legally binding in England and Wales?
Pre-nuptial agreements are not automatically binding in England and Wales in the way that contracts in other areas of law are. Courts give significant weight to an agreement where both parties entered into it freely, with independent legal advice, full financial disclosure, and adequate time before the wedding. The court retains discretion to depart from the agreement where following it would leave one party in financial hardship, but a properly prepared agreement is far more likely to be upheld than set aside.
How far in advance of the wedding should a pre-nuptial agreement be signed?
The agreement should be signed well before the wedding, with most practitioners recommending at least 28 days in advance. Agreements signed very close to the wedding date raise questions about whether one party felt pressured, and a court may give them less weight as a result. Starting the process several months before the wedding gives both parties adequate time to take advice, negotiate the terms, and finalise the document without time pressure.
What should a pre-nuptial agreement cover?
A pre-nuptial agreement can cover as much or as little as the parties choose. Common provisions address what happens to assets each party owned before the marriage, how property acquired during the marriage will be divided, whether there will be any spousal maintenance, and how business interests will be treated. The agreement should be specific rather than generic to be most effective.
Can a post-nuptial agreement be as effective as a pre-nuptial agreement?
Yes, post-nuptial agreements are treated by the courts in substantially the same way as pre-nuptial agreements. Both require independent legal advice, full financial disclosure, and evidence that neither party was under pressure when they signed. A post-nuptial agreement is a useful way to address a change in circumstances after marriage, for example where one party inherits significant assets or starts a new business.
Can we update a pre-nuptial agreement after we are married?
Yes, a pre-nuptial agreement can be reviewed and updated after the marriage. If circumstances change significantly, for example because of a business sale, an inheritance, or the birth of children, it may be sensible to prepare a post-nuptial agreement that reflects the new position. We advise when a review should be undertaken.
Does a pre-nuptial agreement cover what happens to children?
A pre-nuptial agreement cannot determine child arrangements or financial provision for children in advance. Any agreement to that effect would not be binding. The financial needs of children are always considered by the court independently of any agreement between the parents, and a court will not be bound by a clause that seeks to limit a child’s claims under the Children Act 1989.
Do both parties need independent legal advice?
Yes. One of the factors courts consider when assessing whether to uphold a nuptial agreement is whether each party had the opportunity to take proper independent legal advice. Where one party received no advice, or where the same solicitor advised both parties, the agreement is more vulnerable to challenge. We can advise one party and recommend a firm to advise the other where necessary.
How much does an initial consultation cost?
We offer an initial consultation at a fixed fee. During that meeting we will assess your circumstances, explain what a nuptial agreement can and cannot achieve, and give you an estimate for preparing or reviewing a document. Please contact us to arrange a time.
Pre and Post-Nuptial Agreement Team
Ghulam Mustafa
Barrister, Deputy Managing Director, Non-Practising Solicitor AdvocateView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Sarah Akram
Supervising SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Manpreet Kaur
Trainee SolicitorView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
Shahid Hussain
Legal ConsultantView Profile | ContactBook Appointment
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