At Scott Rowe Solicitors we realise that however much we want them to, relationships are never guaranteed to last. Increasingly, people are choosing to protect themselves by signing pre-nuptial agreements before marrying, or cohabitation agreements before moving in together or even having done so.
These agreements make clear what would happen to finances, property and other assets in the event of a break-up. The aim is to minimise the complicated, often messy, task of dividing possessions and asserting rights later on.
Our family law solicitor advises on the sorts of things couples should be thinking about and the terms they should look to agree. We help with any negotiations that may be needed and we’ll formalise the agreement, making sure that it is legally compliant.
We’re also here to advise on enforcing a pre-nuptial or cohabitation agreement, if your relationship has broken down. If you don’t have an agreement in place, our family law solicitor can advise you on your options for making financial or property claims, or for putting in place arrangements for your children.
Speak to our pre-nuptial agreements and co-habitation agreements solicitor now by calling 01297 32345 or contact your local Scott Rowe office in Axminster, Chard or Lyme Regis.
Our pre-nuptial agreement and co-habitation agreement service
We work with couples all over England and Wales, helping to put sensible legal agreements in place to give them complete peace of mind for the future.
Pre-nuptial agreements
With so many couples tending to get married later now, it is common for one or both parties to have significant assets they want to protect.
Our pre-nuptial agreement solicitor can help you create a fair, legally robust agreement that meets all of the requirements necessary for it to be taken into account by a judge if required during divorce proceedings.
Post-nuptial agreements
Even if you do not create a pre-nuptial agreement before marrying, it is not too late to take steps to protect your assets against any future breakdown of your relationship. A post-nuptial agreement works in broadly the same way as a pre-nuptial agreement, but can be signed at any time after you get married.
Post-nuptial agreements are commonly used in situations such as where one spouse receives a large inheritance or is planning to give up work to take care of the couple’s children, meaning their financial situation has significantly changed since they married.
Co-habitation agreements
With many now choosing to live together without getting married, it can be important to make sure it is clear what each partner’s rights and entitlements will be if the relationship ends. This can be particularly important if you buy a house together, one of you moves into a property the other owns or if you have children together.
A co-habitation agreement can be used to set out both what will happen if your relationship ends, but also issues such as how mortgage payments and bills will be paid when living together, helping to provide certainty during your relationship, as well as in the event that things don’t work out.
Enforcing pre-nuptial agreements and co-habitation agreements
While co-habitation agreements are legally enforceable, the situation with pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements is not so clear cut. In theory, a judge handling your divorce can disregard a pre-nuptial or post-nuptial, but in practice they will usually give them considerable weight when making their decision as long as they were created in a legally compliant way.
We can support you during divorce proceedings or separation, helping to ensure the provisions set out in your pre-nuptial, post-nuptial or co-habitation agreement are honoured. In most cases, this can be achieved amicably through non-confrontational dispute resolution, but we can also help you with taking court action if required.
Make an enquiry
To discover more about how our prenuptial and cohabitation agreement solicitors can help you, please make a no obligation enquiry by either calling us on 01297 32345 or by making a free online enquiry.
