Prenups in the UK: Your Complete Guide to Prenuptial Agreements

Planning a wedding is one of the most exciting times in your life - but it’s also when questions about money and legal protection can creep in. If you’ve ever wondered, “what is a prenup?” or “do I need a prenuptial agreement in the UK?”, this guide has everything you need to know.

From explaining exactly what a prenup is, to how much it costs, and how to approach the conversation with your partner, we’ll cover it all - including some of the most memorable celebrity prenups.

Please note that the content in this article does not constitute legal or financial advice. Please consult lawyers and financial advisors when exploring the idea of a prenuptial agreement.

• What is a prenup?
• Do you need a prenup in the UK?
• What should be included in a prenup?
• Is a prenup legally binding in the UK?
• How much does a prenup cost in the UK?
• How to get a prenup in the UK
• Prenup FAQs & expert advice

What Is a Prenup?

A prenuptial agreement, often called a prenup, is a legal document created before marriage that sets out how a couple’s assets will be divided if the marriage ends in divorce.

According to Jessica Pitt, Head of Private Wealth and Family at Foot Anstey, “A prenup is a legal agreement that details each partner’s property, savings, investments, and inheritance, and how these will be split if the marriage doesn’t work out.”

Your prenup can cover:

• Current assets: property, savings, pensions, and income.
• Future assets: anticipated inheritance, business profits, or other wealth.
• Life changes: children, ill health, or major financial shifts.

A prenup is not about leaving one partner with nothing - it’s about fairness, protection, and transparency.

Do You Need a Prenup in the UK?

Prenups aren’t just for the rich and famous. In fact, more UK couples are considering them to:

• Protect pre-marital assets or inheritances.
• Safeguard a business or income.
• Shield children from a previous relationship.
• Limit liability for personal debt.

Arron Bortoft, Director at Vardags, explains, “Prenups are increasingly relevant as people marry later in life, often with assets, inheritances, or children. They help avoid surprises like having to sell a business or dissipate money meant for your children.”

Toby Gowan, Head of Customer Success and Partnerships at Wenup, adds: “Think of a prenup like insurance for your marriage - it’s not about mistrust, it’s about planning. It ensures that if the unexpected happens, both parties have clarity, protection, and security.”

What Should Be Included in a Prenup?

A well-drafted prenup should cover:

• Property and savings: Including jointly owned and individual assets.
• Income and pensions: Who keeps what, and under what conditions.
• Inheritance and future assets: Ringfencing family wealth or expected gifts.
• Children and family obligations: Protecting their financial future.
• Flexibility for life changes: Marriage, babies, or illness.

Barbara Bloomfield, relationship counsellor at Relate, advises avoiding clauses that punish behaviour, such as adultery, which can create tension. The focus should be protection, not control.

Is a Prenup Legally Binding in the UK?

Prenups aren’t automatically legally binding, but UK courts often uphold them if they meet certain criteria:

• Both parties freely enter the agreement and understand its implications.
• Each party has independent legal advice.
• The prenup is signed at least 28 days before the wedding.
• The agreement is fair, meets both partners’ needs, and considers children’s interests.

Arron Bortoft highlights that the key to enforceability is independent legal advice - especially in complex cases.

How Much Does a Prenup Cost in the UK?

Prenup costs vary based on complexity:

• Simple agreements: Around £5,000 + VAT for both parties’ lawyers.
• Complex agreements: Can rise to £10,000+ + VAT, especially if businesses, overseas assets, or expert advice (barrister, accountant, surveyor) are required.

Toby from Wenup explains: “The cost reflects the tailored nature of a prenup. It’s not a one-size-fits-all - the goal is creating clarity and protection for both parties.”

How to Get a Prenup in the UK

Creating a prenup involves these steps:

• Discuss with your partner openly - explain it’s a practical, protective step, not a lack of trust.
• Engage separate solicitors to ensure independent legal advice.
• Compile a full disclosure of assets, liabilities, and future expectations.
• Draft and review the prenup, allowing for adjustments and life changes.
• Sign at least 28 days before the wedding to avoid claims of coercion.

Relationship counsellor Christine West says: “Sitting down and drawing up a prenup before marriage avoids bitter disputes later. Couples who prepare together are often demonstrating trust, not doubt.”

Wedding Prenup FAQs: Expert Advice

It's natural to have questions surrounding prenups - they're still a relatively new concept for UK couples. We asked Toby and the team at Wenup to answer some of the most commonly asked questions about prenuptial agreements.

What exactly is a prenup?

A prenuptial agreement (or prenup) is an agreement entered into by a couple before they marry which outlines how their assets, incomes and debts would be divided if they were to divorce.

Inheritance, gifts and future assets are also taken into account as well. It's a brilliant way for both parties to be open with each other about their financial situation before they take the big step into marriage. Openness, clarity and trust are big parts of any marriage, and a prenuptial agreement offers all of that.

What are the most common misconceptions surrounding prenups?

There are three common misconceptions we hear most at Wenup:

• 'Prenups are just for the rich and famous' - This could not be more wrong. Around 75% of the couples that Wenup support have combined net assets of less than £500,000. 
• 'If you need a prenup you clearly don't trust each other' - Based on the feedback we've had from our couples, the overwhelming view is the process to getting a prenup only enhanced their relationship and cemented trust. We see a prenup as a huge act of love, not of distrust.
• 'My partner has more assets than me. If I sign this and we divorce, I'll be left with nothing' - When going through the process of getting a prenup both parties need to get independent legal advice. The role of the lawyers in the process is to make sure that your agreement is legally fair to you both.

What's the difference between a prenup and a pre-wedding contract?

A pre-wedding contract is another term for a prenuptial agreement - a legal document a couple signs before getting married that sets out how their assets, income, debts, and other financial matters would be handled if the marriage were to end in separation or divorce.

The term “pre-wedding contract” isn’t used in UK law, but some people prefer it because it sounds friendlier and less formal than “prenup” or “pre-nuptial agreement.” In essence, it serves the same purpose: to create clarity, reduce conflict, and protect both partners’ interests by agreeing on financial arrangements in advance.

Are prenups legally binding in the UK? If not, what is their actual legal effect?

Currently, prenups are not automatically binding in England and Wales. What this means is just because you have an agreement does not mean that it will definitely be enforced.

However, if an agreement is entered into with all the key conditions met and importantly the agreement is kept up to date with any big changes (starting a family, if you relocate, becoming financially dependent on your partner), then they do hold significant weight and are considered highly persuasive.

Where we see agreements being watered down or thrown out are where couples were not compliant entering into them (aka, key conditions not being met) and they did not keep it up to date with big changes in their relationship.

What are the requirements for a prenup to be considered in England and Wales?

Key conditions to be aware of agreements in England & Wales:

• Both parties have to get independent legal advice.
• An overarching condition is that the agreement needs to meet the reasonable needs of both parties
• You have to do a full disclosure of all assets, incomes and debts.
• You need to make sure your agreement is signed minimum 28 days prior to your legal ceremony
• Keep the agreement up to date with big changes in circumstance. For example, if you have children - update your prenuptial agreement. if one of you becomes financially independent on the other - update it. If you leave the UK to live abroad - update.

Don't cut corners as this will leave you both open to issues with your agreement if it is needed in the future.

Until 2010, prenuptial agreements in England and Wales were generally considered contrary to public policy - courts viewed them as undermining marriage and routinely disregarded them.

That changed with the landmark Supreme Court case Radmacher v Granatino (2010), which ruled that a prenup freely entered into by both parties, with full understanding and without pressure, should generally be upheld unless it would be unfair to do so.

This decision marked a major shift, recognising the autonomy of adults to decide their own financial arrangements and giving prenups significant persuasive weight in divorce proceedings.

Could my prenup be rejected or challenged by a court?

A really important part of the prenup process is to make sure all of the key conditions are met and moving forward you keep you're agreement up to date with big changes in the future. Prenups will hold less weight and be less persuasive where corners have been cut entering into them leaving them open to being challenged.

What's the typical price range for a prenup?

 If a couple decide to go down the traditional path of getting a prenup where they each go and find their own lawyers, costs can vary but you could expect it to be between £3-£5,000+.

For the vast majority of couples what they are looking to do is straightforward. Wenup have designed a highly collaborative process where the couple build their draft agreement together on our platform and then the independent legal advice both parties need is also part of our process too. For 95% of our couples the total cost including legal advice for both is £1,380.

How do you broach the subject of a prenup?

The first and most important step is to start with an open conversation. A prenup works best when both partners understand why it’s being suggested and what they hope to achieve. It’s not about distrust - it’s about clarity and planning.

Discuss your goals together: for example, how you’d want to handle property, savings, or inheritance if circumstances changed in the future. Once you’re aligned in principle, the next step is to find a provider that ensures the process meets all the key legal and practical requirements.

Your Key Takeaways for Prenuptial Agreements

Whether you’re a couple with significant assets or simply want peace of mind, a prenup is a smart, forward-thinking step before tying the knot.

• A prenup could be considered as insurance for your marriage - protecting both partners, children, and assets.
• UK prenups can be upheld if fair, freely entered, and legally advised.
• Costs vary, but they’re an investment in clarity and security.
• Discuss openly with your partner - timing, transparency, and fairness are essential.

Want to learn more about prenups? Read our breakdown of celebrity prenups here.