Prenups Are Not Just For Celebs

Family law solicitor, Farah Khalid, from leading law firm Boyes Turner explains why protecting your financial future should be a priority for every bride and groom

When someone mentions a ‘prenup’, what comes to mind? Celebrities worth millions of pounds signing an agreement to protect their assets before they get married? That sounds about right, but it’s not the whole story.

You may be surprised to know that a ‘prenup’ or prenuptial agreement isn’t something that’s just for the super-rich to consider. It’s also not the only way that you can plan for your future if for any reason your marriage breaks down.

Pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements both offer you wealth protection which can save you and your family a huge amount of stress and uncertainty in the event of a divorce. And though no one wants to think about this worst-case scenario while they are happily planning their dream day, it’s not something to ignore. Just as you will be choosing your wedding dress, catering, venue and make-up artist, book an appointment with a legal expert so that you know exactly what you’re getting into when it comes to the legal contract around the money and marriage.

We asked specialist family law solicitor Farah Khalid to set the story straight so that you can be informed of your rights before and after you get married. And don’t worry if any of this sounds a bit scary, wealth management isn’t something that only affects couples, it can impact a whole family too so engage your parents and relatives in the conversation so that everyone is clear about the practicalities of safeguarding your money, property, heirlooms and other assets.

What is a pre-nuptial agreement and how does it work?
If a married couple separate or divorce their assets will need to be divided. A pre-nuptial agreement sets out these arrangements before you get married. Without it, divorce can become complicated and expensive.

A prenup sets out the finances of both parties and what they are bringing into the marriage such as inherited wealth, family assets, assets from a previous marriage, investments, savings and even heirlooms like jewellery.

So, what are the main benefits of a prenup? “There are many”, explains Farah. “Firstly, by clarifying non-matrimonial property, parties can be clear on what assets are not to be shared on divorce. A prenup will also allow both parties to protect assets such as inherited wealth, gifts received from third parties and property owned before marriage.”

Farah adds that a pre-nup can also: “cover many of the things that are of concern to wider family members, such as wealth being passed down generations or assets owned jointly with the wider family, family heirlooms or property acquired before the marriage”. If the pre-nuptial agreement “ringfences” such property, Farah says that “the court is less likely to award a share of that property to the other party on any future divorce”. That’s why it can be beneficial to involve parents in any agreements, Farah says: “Often they can fill in the gaps like dates of when properties were purchased and other useful information that can help determine what goes into a prenup.”

Similarly, a pre-nuptial agreement can also ringfence certain assets that one party owns with other family members as well as protect a family business, so again it’s not just the bride or groom that’s protected, but their family too.

Farah adds: “Although we don’t like to think it’s possible, we do come across financial opportunists – people marrying to take advantage of someone’s wealth. A prenup can help put a stop to that before the wedding has even taken place.’

What is a post-nuptial agreement and could this be an option for you?
It is possible to sign a prenup just before a wedding, although it is recommended to allow ample time between entering into a prenup and the wedding to avoid claims of undue pressure that could impact it being upheld. If you choose not to have a pre-nuptial agreement or perhaps your union takes place quickly and there isn’t time to organise one, you can still protect your wealth by setting up a post-nuptial agreement, which is similar to a prenup, but happens after the wedding.

Farah explains: “Some couples prefer to settle into married life and decide later that a post-nuptial agreement would suit them. Alternatively, they may decide to reaffirm or vary an existing pre-nuptial agreement. It takes the same factors into account – wealth, property, businesses, savings etc and if you have children, it can also outline what happens to them if you separate in the future.”

Again, it’s better to have this in place if faced with trying to split assets during a divorce. It’s worth remembering that pre-nups and post-nups are not one-size-fits-all agreements. Your solicitor can design the agreement around your circumstances so that one party receives a greater share of the assets on divorce if, for example, they gave up a potentially lucrative career to become the homemaker or they are the children’s primary carer. Farah adds: “a solicitor can advise on what is fair in your circumstances and, most importantly, it’s transparent; both parties know exactly what the financial circumstances are and agree how to handle them so that there are no surprises later down the line. Tackling these issues upfront is always preferable and can actually strengthen the marriage.

It’s also advisable to update agreements every few years to reflect any changes.