Pre-nuptial Agreements

Prenuptial Agreements in the UK

Couples planning on getting married or registering as a civil partnership are increasingly looking to pre-nuptial agreements. Despite the fact that they are not legally binding, pre-nuptial agreements can still be taken into consideration by a court.

For your pre-nuptial agreements to carry weight in court it is important the following criteria have been met:

• Both parties must have received independent legal advice


• Both parties have made full and honest disclosures of your financial situation


• No pressure has been put on either party to enter a pre-nuptial agreement

It is vital that you follow these steps to have an effective pre-nuptial agreement in place. Leaving a pre-nuptial agreement to the last minute, before your wedding or civil partnership registration, runs the risk of it not being taken into consideration at all by the court. It is best to do this at least one month before for it to be at all recognised.

Prenuptial Contracts

In view of recent case law moving towards the binding nature of pre-nuptial agreements, Lloyd Platt & Company specialises in drawing up and tailoring such agreements to the parties' needs. These agreements set out clearly what will happen on the breakdown of any marriage.

Whilst these agreements are not totally enforceable in England, the Courts may well take notice of the content in deciding how assets will be dealt with on divorce. In the case of second or third marriages where there are no changes of circumstances the pre-nuptial agreements will mostly be binding.

Lloyd Platt & Company are specialist divorce solicitors and experts in family law, adoption, children's matters, civil partnerships, co-habitation, domestic violence, financial settlements on divorce and pre-nuptial agreements.