Pre Nuptial Agreements

Prenuptial Agreement Solicitors

The number of couples seeking to enter into a prenuptial agreement is increasing. Our specialist prenuptial agreement lawyers have all the necessary experience in negotiating and drafting a 'prenup' document during what can be quite a tense time for the parties involved.

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  • “Osbornes has a superb reputation for its work in all areas of family law from pre and post nuptial agreements to unravelling complicated trusts and advising on other complex cross-border issues.”

  • “Osbornes Law offers affluent clients representation in high-value, complex family matters.”

When we marry, we sincerely hope that it will be ‘to death us do part’, but sadly statistics show that over forty per cent of marriages fail in the UK. This is a risk which cannot be ignored, particularly if you benefit from inherited wealth, offshore trusts, property, or business interests, which could be vulnerable in the event of a divorce.

A prenuptial agreement is a formalised legal contract between two people before they marry or enter a civil partnership. It provides protection, particularly in regard to pre-existing wealth and business interests, as the agreement will stipulate how all assets, and sometimes liabilities, will be distributed in the financial settlement if the relationship breaks down.

A prenup should be considered akin to life insurance. We all hope we won’t have to use it, but it can provide vital peace of mind knowing it is there.

The benefits of a prenuptial agreement

Often one person comes to a marriage with more wealth than their partner, and they, or sometimes even their extended family, may be worried about protecting those assets. This is particularly so for high-net-worth individuals and those involved in family or privately run businesses. Divorce can have significant financial implications for other family members and colleagues if cash or assets have to be extracted from a business.

The main benefit of a prenup is that it provides clarity to you both and will help to alleviate any fears about losing assets that you, your partner or family members may have. For example, it is not uncommon for parents to insist on a prenuptial agreement before gifting significant sums or business interests to the next generation.

As well as protecting pre-existing wealth, a prenup can also cover assets which you expect to acquire in the future, such as an inheritance or business shares.

It can also be beneficial for people who have concerns about arrangements for children from a previous relationship and want to ensure they are financially looked after.

A prenuptial agreement can be very flexible in the issues it covers. For example, we have represented a number of high-profile individuals where privacy is key. In those cases, we have been able to include non-disclosure clauses to protect their private lives.

Additionally, if there is the possibility of an international divorce, this may be due to one or both of you previously having lived abroad or being foreign nationals who relocated to the UK, and then we can specify that you intend for any divorce proceedings that may arise to be taken in the UK. This may shield you from harsh foreign laws over the division of assets. This will be subject to you meeting the jurisdiction requirements in the UK, which are discussed further here in international divorce.

While some people may believe such legal agreements are unromantic or unduly pessimistic, many clients prefer the certainty that prenuptial agreement offers and find that the negotiations enable them to talk more openly about financial matters before they marry.

When to negotiate a prenup?

If you have wealth to protect and are considering getting married or entering a civil partnership, you should talk to your lawyer as soon as possible. Our expert family solicitors in London have negotiated numerous prenups and will advise you on broaching the subject if you have not already done so.

It is very important that discussions around a prenuptial agreement begin long before the wedding day. Indeed, signing one close to your big day could impact its validity as it may be deemed to have been signed under pressure.

Are prenups legally binding?

Prenuptial agreements are not yet legally binding in England. However, since 2010 our courts have shown increasing willingness to abide by the terms provided it has been entered into properly.

There are a number of requirements needed to be able to convince a court that your agreement should be considered binding, which are:

  • you have each taken independent legal advice on your rights and the implications of the agreement;
  • there has been full disclosure of all assets and liabilities;
  • the agreement allows for future family changes, such as if children arrive or someone becomes seriously ill and unable to work; and
  • neither of you has been unduly pressurised into signing.

What to expect from our prenup lawyers

One of our expert lawyers will talk to you about your circumstances and objectives and advise you on the steps needed, including what financial disclosure you must make. Getting this information together promptly will help expedite your case, enabling you to focus on your wedding and future life together.

We will then liaise with your partner’s lawyer and draft an agreement reflecting what you agree, ensuring all formalities are followed. Our team of expert lawyers has vast experience in helping wealthy individuals, including ex-pats, elite athletes and celebrities, to reach an agreement that provides peace of mind regarding the financial fallout from a potential divorce.

We will advise you on the technical requirements needed to enable your agreement to be upheld by a court, and we will deal with your case sensitively to ensure no ill feelings arise prior to your big day.

Your next step

Obtaining early legal advice is vital when entering a prenuptial agreement, as delay can impact the validity of your agreement. We will usually be able to offer a fixed fee quotation for a prenuptial agreement, so there would be no hidden costs or nasty surprises.

Speak to a Family Solicitor Today

For a free initial conversation call 020 7485 8811

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      Chambers UK 2024

    • Osbornes is a really good team that gives a first-class service which is both sensible and insightful but also supportive of the client's needs.

      Chambers UK 2024

    • Osbornes Law offers affluent clients representation in high-value, complex family matters.

      Chambers UK 2024

    • They are uniquely placed to cater for every avenue of family legal difficulty, whether financial or children.

      Legal 500 2024

    • Osbornes has one of the strongest family law teams in the business with a very wide range of experience and seniority

      Legal 500 2024

    • Osbornes has incredible strength in depth across every area of family law, from public law children and child abduction proceedings, through to adoption and surrogacy, and private client work.

      Legal 500 2024

    • Areas of expertise for the group span from unravelling complicated trusts and handling pre-acquired wealth, to Children Act proceedings and advising on the financial provision for children

      Legal 500 2024

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      CHAMBERS UK 2023

    • "They provide excellent advice and service to clients."

      CHAMBERS 2023

    • "Osbornes Law have a very broad family practice which does all areas of family law at a high level. They have an excellent practice; they are top quality across the board."

      CHAMBERS UK 2023

    • "Osbornes offers a unique service of high quality advice and representation across a wide range of areas of law."

      Legal 500 2023

    • "The team are all eminently approachable and down to earth, committed, hardworking and who support their clients in a very effective, pragmatic way."

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    • "Osbornes offers an excellent family law service spanning the wide range of disputes that may arise, in relation both to children and finances."

      Legal 500 2023

    • "A family team that is able to offer the highest level of expertise across the family law spectrum from high-net-worth finances through to care proceedings and children matters."

      Legal 500 2023

    • "Mark Freedman is intelligent and personable and has a good selection of high-net work cases".

      Chambers UK

    • "It has a strong and experienced team of solicitors who don’t take bad points, work sensibly to get a settlement and who you can always pick up the phone and speak to. They are good lawyers and know the strengths and weaknesses of their clients’ cases. They don’t posture and always pursue their clients cases appropriately. "

      Legal 500 2021

    • Mark Freedman frequently takes on high-value financial and children proceedings that involve complex tax, trust and accounting issues. Sources praise the "tenacity and common sense" he brings to challenging disputes.

      Chambers UK

    • "Mark is very experienced, competent, good with clients and takes a sensible approach to cases. He knows exactly what he's doing."

      Chambers & Partners Directory 2020, Mark Freedman

    • "Naomi Angell is a highly esteemed practitioner who is highlighted as "a leader in the field" and "extremely knowledgeable" by interviewees. She is particularly recognised for her experience in complex adoption disputes."

      Chambers UK

    • [The Family Law department] handles significant matrimonial finance cases and complex nuptial agreements. Respected for its expertise in cross-border children law matters.

      Chambers UK

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