When you sign a prenup matters almost as much as what it says. Sign too close to the wedding and a court may give it less weight; sign in good time and you remove one of the main grounds for challenging it.
Why timing matters
One way a prenup can be attacked is the argument that a partner signed under pressure — for example, faced with calling off a wedding that is days away, with guests booked and deposits paid. Signing well in advance shows the agreement was entered into freely, which is central to it being upheld (see are prenups legally binding?).
Where the "28 days" comes from
In its 2014 report on marital agreements, the Law Commission recommended that an agreement should be signed at least 28 days before the wedding as one of the safeguards for a "qualifying" agreement. That hasn't become law, but it has become the widely used rule of thumb — sign at least a month before, ideally more.
What if the wedding is very soon?
If there isn't time to do it properly before the wedding, it is usually better to make a postnuptial agreement afterwards than to rush a prenup in the final days.
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.