Prenuptial (before the marriage) and postnuptial (after the marriage) agreements are an increasingly popular choice for those looking for wealth protection and certainty in the event of relationship breakdown. Our family law specialists in Manchester, Sale and Chester help our clients achieve a much greater level of clarity in respect of their finances through the expert drafting and negotiation of pre-nups and post-nups. We also advise clients across the UK from offices in Central London, North London, Liverpool, Leeds, York and Sheffield.
Whilst we do not offer legal aid, we are very happy to discuss ways to fund your legal costs.
A prenuptial agreement (or ‘pre-nup’) is a legal document signed by both partners before they marry or enter a civil partnership. It sets out the financial arrangements in the event of a divorce, including how some assets would be divided, and how others would be ring-fenced. While prenuptial agreements are not yet automatically legally binding in England and Wales, courts give them significant weight provided they are fair, have been properly drafted and entered into freely, with certain safeguards in place.
What is a postnuptial agreement?
A postnuptial agreement works in exactly the same way as a pre-nup, but is entered into after the marriage or civil partnership has taken place. Couples often put one in place after a significant change in circumstances, such as receiving an inheritance, starting a business, or having children. Like a pre-nup, a postnuptial agreement must be fair, properly drafted and entered into freely, with certain safeguards in place, in order to carry weight in court.
Our prenuptial agreements and postnuptial agreements services
Drafting and advising on pre-nups and post-nups
Our prenuptial and postnuptial agreement solicitors work with you to draft an agreement that ensures a fair outcome for you in the event of divorce. We will make sure everything is done in order to ensure the agreement carries weight, that you are expertly and independently advised. We will also carefully guide you through any financial disclosure process.
Whether your circumstances have changed or you simply want greater certainty going forward, we’ll prepare and advise you on a clear, fair agreement that reflects the outcome you want. A well-drafted agreement can save significant time, cost, and conflict if your relationship later breaks down, particularly when compared to the expense of contested financial proceedings.
We are also very experienced with ‘mirror’ agreements where these are required by couples whose financial lives are across different jurisdictions.
How prenuptial and postnuptial agreements work
1. Initial consultation
We talk through your circumstances, what you own, and what you want to protect. You’ll leave with a clear sense of your options and what happens next. Where ‘full and frank’ financial disclosure is being exchanged as part of the process, we will help ensure that this is done thoroughly. It is important to note that, where the agreement requires a ‘full and frank’ financial disclosure process, the Family Court in England and Wales courts will not typically uphold an agreement where a party has then withheld disclosure in breach of their obligations, regardless of how complete the other aspects of the agreement’s preparation might be.
2. Drafting the agreement
The initial draft of the agreement is prepared, and the fine detail is then negotiated. We will closely advise you at all stages, and discuss hypothetical matters and issues you may not have considered previously.
3. Independent legal advice and signing
Each party must take independent legal advice before signing. For a pre-nup, the relevant guidance strongly recommends signing at least 28 days before the wedding, as last-minute agreements tend to suggest an unreasonable amount of pressure being exerted.
Why choose Slater Heelis for your prenuptial or postnuptial agreement
Recognised expertise
Our family law department has been repeatedly commendedin The Times Best Law Firms guide, including in its most recent 2026 release. The Legal 500 also recognises us as one of the leading family law firms in the North West. Our family team has also secured a debut ranking in the Slater Heelis Ranked in Chambers High Net Worth Guide in the Family/Matrimonial Finance: High Net Worth UK-wide category, which recognises only a small number of firms nationally. With over 1,400 reviews and an average rating of 4.9/5 on ReviewSolicitors, our clients trust us and actively recommend us to others seeking family law expertise.
Specialists in wealth protection
Our prenuptial and postnuptial agreement solicitors understand the fine detail of how the Family Court will view a particular agreement. We make sure everything is structured to provide that as much weight as possible would be accorded to your agreement in the event of it being challenged at a later date.
Straightforward and proactive
From your first meeting with us we will help you cut through the noise and understand what’s important to achieving the outcome you want. We will represent you fearlessly and proactively in order to ensure an agreement that is fair to you.
National scale, proven expertise
Slater Heelis is part of Lawfront, a national group of regional law firms. Together, our family law teams total over 100 specialists and hold 8 Legal 500 rankings nationally, including 3 Tier 1.
Putting a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement in place (again, provided it is properly drafted, entered into, and subject to the relevant safeguards) is one of the most practical steps you can take to protect your financial future and safeguard your wealth. Our nuptial agreement solicitors are here to guide you through the process and make sure everything is properly in place.
Call us on 0330 111 3131 or contact us via our online enquiry form to speak with our family law team about prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.
Our offices in Manchester, Sale and Chester are open for face-to-face meetings, and we also work with clients across the UK, with meetings at other locations, such as London, Leeds and Liverpool, available by appointment.. We’ll keep you informed at every stage, explain everything in plain English, and give you the straightforward legal advice you need when it matters most.
Frequently Asked Questions about postnuptial and prenuptial arrangements
Are nuptial agreements legally binding in the UK?
A prenuptial agreement and a postnuptial agreement are not automatically legally binding in England and Wales, but following a Supreme Court decision from 2010, the Family Court will give them ‘magnetic’ weight where the agreement is fair, where both parties entered into the agreement freely, with the appropriate safeguards in place, and with proper provision made for any children. A nuptial agreement entered into in accordance with these requirements is the most effective way to protect your wealth.
What's the difference between a prenup and a postnup?
A prenuptial agreement is signed before marriage or civil partnership; a postnuptial agreement is made after. Both serve the same purpose: setting out how assets would be divided if the relationship broke down. Either can cover property, savings, business interests, and financial provision for children from a previous relationship.
How much does a pre-nuptial / postnuptial agreement cost?
The cost of a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement depends on the complexity of your finances and the extent of the negotiations. Our prenuptial agreement solicitors will give you a clear indication of costs at your initial consultation, with regular updates throughout the process. It’s worth bearing in mind that the cost of a pre-nup (or post-nup) is typically a fraction of the cost of contested financial proceedings on divorce.
How long does it take to prepare the prenuptial / postnuptial agreement?
Again, the preparation time will depend on the complexity of your finances and the extent of the negotiations involved. Agreements can be prepared as quickly as between four and eight weeks from the initial consultation.
Do I need a solicitor to draft a prenuptial / postnuptial agreement?
Trying to manage the drafting and negotiations in respect of prenuptial / postnuptial agreement without an expert family solicitor is fraught with significant risk and not advisable. Given the legal complexities involved, trying to ‘go it alone’ without a solicitor is likely to result in a significantly worse outcome.
Similarly, in respect of the negotiations themselves, an expert family solicitor will know how to progress things in order to produce a good and fair outcome for you. The fact that each party has received expert and independent legal advice will also typically mean that the agreement itself will have a much greater chance of being upheld by the Family Court, in the event of any subsequent challenge to its terms.
When should I review my prenuptial or postnuptial agreement?
Any properly drafted prenuptial or postnuptial agreement should include a detailed ‘review clause’. It is also crucial to ensure the reviews actually take place! As well as periodical reviews, review events, such as having children, buying property, starting a business, or receiving an inheritance should also be provided for within the terms of the agreement. What was fair and in the context of when you originally entered into the agreement may no longer be fair in the context of your future situation. Our expert family solicitors can advise in order to ensure you, your wealth, and any children, are protected.
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