Have a fixed-fee pre-nuptial agreement drafted by a family law solicitor to meet your specific requirements. We can serve you wherever you are in the country.

Quick links on this page:

• How much will it cost?
• What to include in your agreement?
• How strong are Pre,nuptial, Cohabitation & Civil Partnership Agreements in court?

Pre-nuptial Agreements (or pre-nups), Cohabitation Agreements and Civil Partnership Agreements may not be a romantic ideal but they are an effective way to agree how assets will be divided should you and your partner separate.

Holmes & Hills’ family solicitors are experienced in drafting agreements tailored to couples’ circumstances and requirements. Our solicitors will ensure the agreement is thorough and specific to the needs of you and your partner. By doing this your agreement will offer the greatest possible level of protection to both you and your partner.

How much does a Pre-nuptial Agreement cost?

Holmes & Hills now offer a fixed-fee service in relation to Pre-nuptial, Cohabitation and Civil Partnership Agreements.

This service includes:

• An initial meeting (in person or over the phone) with advice and guidance
• Preparing your Pre-nuptial Agreement
• Correspondence with you and your husband or wife’s solicitors

This service does not include:

• Dealing with issues concerning children, finances or any other legal matter
• Any agents or experts fees (your solicitor will identify whether these are likely to be incurred)
• Any changes to court fees or the rate of VAT as set by the Government

What is a Pre-nuptial, Cohabitation or Civil Partnership Agreement?

Pre-nuptial, Civil Partnership and Cohabitation Agreements are simply a document signed by a couple which outlines how assets will be divided between them should they separate and who will pay any mortgage or outgoings, both during the relationship and if the relationship should breakdown. They can include a range of provisions and are tailored to your and your partner’s needs and circumstances.

What should be included in a Pre-nuptial, Cohabitation or Civil Partnership Agreement?

Our solicitors will advise you on what can and should be included in your agreement so both you and your partner’s interests are protected.

The following are all examples of what are regularly included in Pre-nuptial Agreements:

• Agreement that neither partner will make a claim for the possessions and assets of the other.
• Provisions setting out what share of the home is owned by each partner.
• Provisions stating what will become of assets which were purchased jointly, e.g. cars.
• Agreement over who will pay any joint expenses.

How strong are Pre-nuptial Agreements in court?

Recent court cases have clearly demonstrated that judges are giving far greater weight to the provisions and agreements set out in Pre-nuptial Agreements than they once did. Whilst they are not ultimately legally binding, they allow couples greater control over how assets are divided.

Whilst judges may not follow the agreements to the letter when deciding how assets are to be divided, they are paying increasing attention to what had been agreed by each partner prior to separation, when deciding on the division of assets.

For this reason, Pre-nuptial, Cohabitation and Civil Partnership Agreements are an increasingly popular mechanism for protecting your assets. Ask one our specialist family solicitors for further information.