Prenuptial Agreement UK template

A Prenuptial Agreement, also known as a ‘prenuptial contract’ or ‘prenup’, is a legal document signed by a couple before their marriage or civil partnership.

The document specifies each person’s assets. It also sets out how these, along with any future assets, are intended to be divided if the relationship ends.

You can draft a prenuptial contract to record your mutual decisions in advance. This clarifies financial arrangements and helps to prevent disputes.

What is included in a Prenuptial Agreement?

Prenuptial Agreements set out financial matters. This includes the financial rights and responsibilities of each person.

The agreement should be tailored to your individual circumstances and provide full disclosure of all assets and liabilities.

Before you draft your own Prenuptial Agreement, it can be helpful to review an example. Use the template below as a guide for drawing up your document.

Party details

Include the full legal names and home addresses of each person in the relationship. Provide the date of the upcoming marriage or civil partnership.

Disclosure of assets and liabilities

Provide a list of each person’s assets and liabilities, including:

• Property
• Savings and investments
• Pensions
• Business interests
• Inheritances
• Debts and loans

Confirm that the list is complete and accurate, and state that the Prenuptial Agreement is based on this disclosure.

Separate property

Identify the assets each person owns before the relationship and intends to retain as their own. Detail if any future increases in their value will also remain with the owner.

Matrimonial property

Define which assets are shared and the ownership of property acquired during the marriage or civil partnership. Indicate if shared assets are held jointly or proportionately, and set out how these would be divided.

Debt

Allocate responsibility for pre-marital and marital debts, and distinguish between personal and business liabilities. Set out any indemnities relating to the other person’s debts.

Spousal maintenance

Indicate if either party may claim spousal support. If so, outline the amount, duration, any limits, and the circumstances in which it may be varied.

Housing

Address the family home. Specify who retains it if the relationship ends, and if one person may reside there temporarily. Indicate how any sale proceeds and mortgage obligations will be managed.

Inheritance

Specify the treatment of inheritances and trusts before and during the relationship. Indicate if these assets, along with any gifts received, will remain the receiving party’s separate property or not.

After preparing your document, have a legal expert review your prenuptial contract to make sure it’s ready for signing.

The table below provides an overview of the key advantages and disadvantages of a prenuptial contract:

If you’re not planning to marry or enter into a civil partnership, a Cohabitation Agreement may be suitable.

The table below outlines the main differences between a Prenuptial Agreement and a Cohabitation Agreement in the UK: