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Attitudes towards money and marriage are changing – and with people having more open discussions about their financial situations and looking to protect the assets they've worked hard for, prenuptial agreements are growing in popularity.

No longer considered unromantic, or reserved just for the rich and famous, SoGlos shares some of the reasons why more couples are choosing prenups, informed by some expert advice from Kristie Silsby, senior associate solicitor in the family law team at Willans LLP solicitors.

Provides clarity and protection

A prenuptial agreement is a contract which partners enter into before they get married or enter into a civil partnership, allowing them to agree on a fair way to divide their assets, should their relationship break down – with some of the most common assets covered being property, inheritance and business investments. 

As well as providing protection for assets which individuals want to keep separate from the assets they share with their spouse, prenups can also protect partners from º£½ÇÉçÇø on the liability for each other's debts, should they split up. 

Couples must be completely open and honest about the extent of their current and future assets, as well as debts and liabilities, when entering into a prenup. It's also worth noting that prenups are only valid if they are fair and if both parties have entered into them freely, after º£½ÇÉçÇø independent legal advice. What constitutes a fair division may also change depending on the length of the marriage or civil partnership.

Reflects changing attitudes towards marriage

With attitudes towards money and marriage changing, particularly among Millennials and Gen Z, prenuptial agreements are increasingly being seen in the same light as wills and insurance policies. 

Online platforms and especially social media have helped to normalise conversations about money, debt and wealth for younger people that their parents may have considered taboo – so younger couples seem more comfortable establishing boundaries around their money and their assets, rather than fully merging their finances with their spouse.

Many people are also marrying later, when their lives and careers are more established, so for individuals who have built up their financial security through significant savings or pension pots, for example, a prenup allows them to define how much of those assets are brought into the marriage or civil partnership – and what should happen to them if it ends.

Protects property owners

Similarly for individuals who own their own home, a prenup can ringfence any property purchased before their relationship began.

Whether it's a family home, or an investment property which contributes to your income, a prenup allows couples to define what is considered marital property and what isn't, as well as how mortgage contributions are treated and what happens if the property is sold during their marriage or civil partnership.

Provides for children from previous relationships

With second marriages and blended families becoming increasingly common, prenups also allow couples to define what provisions will be made for any children from a previous partnership.

From clarifying who owns the family property, establishing which assets parents intend to pass directly to their children through inheritance and protecting these, to dividing any remaining assets fairly between spouses and children, a prenup helps to set expectations from the start, avoiding disputes or complications in the future.

Protects business assets for company owners

Without a prenup, companies founded before a marriage or civil partnership began will be considered as assets in divorce proceedings and factored into any financial settlements, so it's especially important for entrepreneurs and business owners to consider this.

Prenuptial agreements are commonly used to ringfence business investments or shares. Without a prenup, your spouse may be entitled to a proportion of your business interests in the event of a divorce, which could have significant effects on the ongoing running of the business and other business partners involved. 

To ensure prenuptial agreements are fair, accurate and handled correctly, it's important to draft them with a qualified solicitor. 

For more information about prenuptial agreements and how Willans can help you create one, visit .