Prenups were once seen as something only the very wealthy, or the American, did. That has changed a great deal. Prenuptial agreements are now far more common and accepted in the UK than they used to be — a mainstream, practical step rather than an exotic one. Here is how attitudes shifted, what is driving the trend, and why the label "only for the rich" no longer fits.
From rare to mainstream
For a long time, prenups carried little legal weight here and were uncommon. The big shift came in 2010, when the Supreme Court confirmed in Radmacher v Granatino that a fair agreement should be given significant weight (see are prenups legally binding?). Since then, both awareness and use have grown steadily. For the longer story of how the law travelled from ignoring prenups to respecting them, see our history of prenups in the UK.
Why more couples are making them
Several things are driving the trend:
- People marrying later — with more assets, savings and pensions already built up.
- More second marriages and blended families — where couples want to protect children’s interests (see prenups for second marriages).
- Rising property values — a home is often a couple’s biggest asset (see protecting a property).
- More business ownership and self-employment — livelihoods people want to keep separate (see prenups for business owners).
- A more open attitude to money — couples increasingly talk about finances before marriage as a matter of course.
Online services have also made prenups far more affordable and accessible than the old solicitor-only route (see prenup costs and online prenup vs solicitor), which has widened who considers one.
Common enough to be normal, not universal
Prenups are common in the sense of being widely accepted and no longer remarkable — but they are still a minority of marriages, and there is no stigma either way. Some of the reluctance that lingers comes from myths rather than reality: that they are only for the wealthy, that they mean you expect to divorce, or that they are a red flag. None survives much scrutiny.
Still a personal decision
Common or not, whether a prenup is right for you depends on your own circumstances — what you have to protect and what feels fair. Our guide to who should consider a prenup walks through the situations where one makes the most sense, and the pros and cons help you weigh it up.
Does being common make a prenup more likely to work?
Interestingly, yes — indirectly. As prenups become more familiar, courts, solicitors and couples all treat them more seriously, and the practice around making them well is better understood. A generation ago a judge might have viewed a prenup as an oddity; today a fair, properly made agreement is an expected part of many financial cases (see do prenups work?). Familiarity also means better resources: fixed-fee online services, clear guidance on disclosure and independent advice, and a body of decided cases that show what works. So the rise in popularity is not just a trend — it has made prenups more effective in practice, which in turn encourages more couples to make one.
Are prenups common in the UK now?
Prenups are far more common in the UK than they were a generation ago. They were once associated with the very wealthy, but since the courts began giving fair agreements significant weight in 2010, awareness and use have grown steadily — driven by people marrying later, more second marriages, rising property values, and affordable online services. They are now a mainstream, practical step, not an exotic one.
What the numbers and trends suggest
There is no central register of prenups in England & Wales — they are private documents that are never filed anywhere (see do you register a prenup?), so no one can quote an exact figure. What we can see is indirect but consistent: family solicitors report rising enquiries, online services have made drafting accessible to couples who would never have paid for a bespoke agreement, and prenups feature far more often in the media and in popular culture than a decade ago (see prenups in the news). The broader backdrop matters too: with a significant share of marriages ending in divorce, more couples treat planning ahead as prudent rather than pessimistic.
Attitudes have shifted, not just the law
The legal change in 2010 mattered, but so did a quieter cultural shift. Couples today are more comfortable talking openly about money, more likely to keep some finances separate, and more aware that financial independence and romance are not opposites. Many now see a prenup the way they see a will or life insurance: an unglamorous but responsible piece of admin. The stigma that once attached to raising the subject has faded, and the idea that a prenup is a red flag or means you expect to divorce increasingly reads as outdated. This is part of why they are becoming more common, not just more effective.
Common abroad, catching up here
It helps to see the UK in context. In many countries prenups (or their equivalents) are routine, and in some legal systems a marriage contract is a normal, expected step. In the United States, for instance, premarital agreements are commonplace and generally enforceable (see UK vs US prenups). England & Wales has historically lagged, largely because of the old reluctance to enforce them, but the direction of travel is clearly towards the international norm. Couples with an international background or who marry abroad often expect a prenup as a matter of course, which adds to the momentum here.
The role of online services
Perhaps the single biggest change in who makes a prenup has come from cost and access. For decades, the only route was a family solicitor charging by the hour, which put a prenup firmly out of reach for ordinary couples and reinforced the "only for the rich" image. Fixed-fee online services have broken that link. A couple can now set out their finances, agree their terms and generate a properly structured agreement for a predictable price, then take independent advice on top if they wish — advice that costs far less once the drafting is done (see prenup costs). This has widened the pool of couples for whom a prenup is a realistic, proportionate step, not an extravagance. It is a large part of why prenups have moved from rare to routine, and why couples on ordinary incomes now consider one as readily as they would a will.
Which couples are driving the trend
The rise is not evenly spread — certain groups account for much of it. Couples marrying later in life, often with homes, pensions and savings already accumulated, have the most to organise (see a prenup for a later-life marriage). Those entering a second marriage, frequently with children from a first, want to protect their children’s interests. The self-employed and business owners want to shield a livelihood. And a growing number of younger couples who expect a future inheritance or rising earnings are getting ahead of it early. Recognising yourself in one of these groups is often the moment a prenup stops being an abstract idea and starts to make obvious sense (see do you need a prenup?).
Does “common” mean you should have one too?
Popularity is not, by itself, a reason to make a prenup — but the same forces that have made them common are exactly the ones that might apply to you. If you are marrying later with a home and pension already built up, entering a second marriage, running a business, or expecting an inheritance, you are in precisely the group driving the trend. The fact that prenups are now mainstream simply means there is less social awkwardness in raising the subject (see how to talk about a prenup) and better, more affordable ways to make one. Whether you actually need one still turns on your own circumstances (see do you need a prenup?), not on what other couples are doing.
Are prenups common? FAQs
How common are prenups in the UK?
Increasingly common and accepted, especially since 2010, though still a minority of marriages.
Are prenups only for the wealthy?
No — anyone with assets, a business or an inheritance can benefit (see who should consider one).
Are prenups becoming more popular?
Yes — the trend has been steadily upward since the 2010 Radmacher decision made them more effective (see do prenups work?).
Do most couples get a prenup in the UK?
Not most — but far more than before, and it is now a normal, unremarkable choice for couples with something to protect.
Why are prenups more common than they used to be?
Later marriages, more second marriages, higher property values and affordable online drafting have all played a part (see the history of prenups).
Are prenups more common in second marriages?
Yes — couples often want to protect children’s inheritance and assets from a first marriage (see prenups for second marriages).
Do young couples get prenups too?
Increasingly, especially where future earnings, a business or a family inheritance are expected (see prenups for young couples).
Is there a register of how many prenups exist?
No — they are private documents and are not filed anywhere, so exact numbers are not recorded (see is a prenup public record?).
Create your prenuptial agreement online
UK Prenup lets couples in England & Wales create a clear, fair prenuptial agreement online from £199, with your document generated instantly as a PDF. See how it works or get started.
UK Prenup is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. A prenuptial agreement in England & Wales is not automatically binding, and both partners should take independent legal advice before signing.