Divorce reforms to give pre-nups legal standing

A package likely to recommend a shake-up of the divorce laws is to be published by the Government’s law reform advisers this month (February 2014).

The ‘Matrimonial Property, Needs and Agreements’ proposals, drawn up by the Law Commission after more than four years of discussion, will outline a new law ‘to consider the treatment of pre-nuptial, post-nuptial and separation agreements’.

It will suggest new rules on how one marriage partner should meet the genuine financial needs of the other after divorce.

The package is also likely to include specific rules meaning that a bride or groom who brought their own assets into a marriage - such as a family-owned company or an inherited fortune - would not lose them in the event of divorce.

The plans will be presented to Justice Secretary Chris Grayling together with detailed recommendations for legislation to go before Parliament.

For more information visit our pre-nuptial agreements page