FRIDAY’S Royal Wedding has brought out the romantic in all of us and this year is likely to be a bumper year for UK brides.
Swept along by the excitement of the big day, it’s all too easy – and probably appropriate - to forget those disturbing one in three divorce statistics.
So, a leading Luton solicitors firm is warning people to consider a pre-nup before they follow William and Kate down the aisle.
Whereas in the USA the courts have had pre-nuptial agreements in place for many years, it’s only now in the UK that such agreements are being accepted in a court of law.
Sukh Saini, a partner at Pictons said: “The Supreme Court in the UK has now recognised the legality of pre-nuptial agreements, as long as the agreements are fair. Both parties must have their own separate legal advice and everyone is charged with being honest about their assets at the time of signing the agreement.
“It doesn’t sound like a very romantic thing to even consider when you are planning to get married, but actually it can prevent a lot of heartache if the marriage does eventually dissolve. Pre-nups, as they are called, can relate to things like family businesses, assets and income. Usually it’s before children are involved but not in all cases. It’s especially important in second marriages, where there may be children from the first, or if widowed or divorced women have financial security in place from their earlier marriages.
“A lot of people come to see me about pre-nuptial agreements but interestingly in some cases they don’t need it. From a personal point of view as a specialist in family law, I enjoy the preparation of pre-nups because the couple aren’t at war, as they tend to be with divorcing couples! I think it’s important to recognise there is a need for pre-nuptial agreements and it’s been an acceptable part of the process of getting married in the US for a long time.”
So, before you rush to the altar and promise to love and cherish, it’s worth ensuring your assets are secure.
For more information contact Pictons on 01582 870870 or log onto www.pictons.com.
