Prenuptial agreements or ‘prenups’ can provide essential protection for those getting married, especially if they have substantial assets, are remarrying or have children from a previous relationship. Our prenuptial agreement solicitors in Reading can assist with drafting and reviewing prenups, as well as advising on their application in divorce.
At Clifton Ingram, we understand that making a legal agreement considering the possibility of divorce can seem unromantic and may be a point of contention between couples planning to marry. We handle these matters sensitively while also ensuring our clients’ best interests are suitably protected at all times.
We work with clients in the Reading area and further afield from a wide range of backgrounds and in many different circumstances.
Our prenup solicitors in Reading can assist with issues including:
- Negotiating the terms of prenuptial agreements
- Drafting prenuptial agreements
- Reviewing prenuptial agreements
- Updating or replacing prenuptial agreements after marriage
- The application of prenuptial agreements during divorce
Why trust Clifton Ingram’s prenuptial agreement solicitors in Reading?
- Our team is ranked for Family Law in respected client guide The Legal 500
- Each of our prenup solicitors in Reading is a member of top family law network Resolution
- We have the experience to advise on prenups for a wide range of scenarios, including where there are high value and complex assets to consider
- Our team work strategically to reach a suitable agreement without placing strain on your relationship
- We communicate clearly in plain English and will answer your questions promptly
Our services for prenuptial agreements in the UK
Negotiating the terms of prenuptial agreements
Careful consideration must be given by both partners when making a prenuptial agreement. We can advise on what terms to include and how they would impact your future interests as well as supporting you if you need to negotiate with your future spouse and their own lawyer.
We approach these matters in a constructive way, helping to ensure that your interests are effectively represented without creating unnecessary conflict or tension. Our team can either support you in negotiating with your partner or work directly with their legal advisers to reach a suitable agreement before reviewing this with you.
Drafting prenuptial agreements
Prenuptial agreements must be meticulously drafted so that they have exactly the effect you intend and have the best chance of being taken into consideration by a court if this is ever required during a divorce. Our experts will help you to get a prenup in place that can give you full confidence that its terms match your best interests and that it is legally robust.
We can draft an agreement and liaise with your future spouse’s lawyers to discuss any questions they might have and, if necessary, make any agreed amendments. We will ensure that you fully understand the terms and all of their implications before signing.
Reviewing prenuptial agreements
If you have been asked to sign a prenuptial agreement or ‘prenuptial contract’ before getting married, then you must get appropriate legal advice before signing. Not only is this good sense to make sure the agreement is fair to you, but it is also a legal requirement if the agreement is to have any standing in a court.
Our team can review a prenup for you and advise if we believe it is fair or whether there are terms that we believe should be amended. We can work with your partner’s lawyers to agree any amendments and make sure you are happy with the final terms before signing.
Updating or replacing prenuptial agreements after marriage
While prenuptial agreements should be made with consideration to the future, circumstances can change meaning an existing agreement is no longer suitable. Significant changes in your situation, such as having children, could even render an existing agreement unenforceable. For this reason, it is sensible to review your agreement from time to time and if you experience any major life events that could affect it.
Our team can assist with advising on whether your prenup needs updating and, if appropriate, can assist with preparing a postnuptial agreement to replace it. A postnuptial agreement offers the same protections as a prenup but can be made at any time during your marriage.
The application of prenuptial agreements during divorce
If you are getting divorced or considering it and you have a prenup, then it is important to get expert legal advice. This can help to provide assurance that the terms are likely to stand up or, if you wish to challenge the agreement, give you an indication of whether this is realistic.
Our experts will be happy to review a prenuptial agreement for you and advise you on how it would be likely to apply to your divorce. We can also support you if you wish to challenge the terms of a prenup.
Requirements for a legally sound prenuptial agreement
A prenuptial agreement is not legally binding under UK law, but they will generally be taken into consideration by a court during divorce as long as the following conditions were met at the time the agreement was made:
- Both spouses entered into the agreement freely and willingly
- The agreement was signed by both spouses
- The agreement was entered into more than 28 days prior to the marriage taking place
- Each spouse made a full disclosure of their assets and any other relevant financial information before signing
- Both spouses received suitable legal advice before signing
Additionally, the agreement must not impinge upon the reasonable requirements of any children of either spouse.
Our prenuptial agreements fees
When it comes to making a prenup, cost is an important consideration but one that needs to be weighed against the potential future value of having a fair, robust agreement in place. We will be happy to discuss our costs and provide a realistic quote up front. For some matters related to prenuptial agreements, we may be able to act on a fixed fee basis.
To find out more about our fees, please get in touch using the contact details below.
Contact our prenuptial agreement solicitors in Reading
To discuss a marriage prenuptial agreement with our experts in Reading, you can call us on 0118 978 0099 or fill out our contact form.
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