Prenuptial agreements, once viewed as the preserve of the ultra-rich, are becoming a mainstream safeguard for young couples in Britain. New research shows that one in five newly married adults aged 18 to 35 have already signed a prenup, marking a dramatic cultural shift from the 1970s, when just 1.5 per cent of couples opted for one.
The poll, commissioned by the Marriage Foundation, surveyed 2,000 young adults and found that of the 599 who were married, 18 per cent had formalised a prenup. The trend echoes earlier findings: since 2000, around 20 per cent of couples have used prenups before tying the knot, compared with just 5 per cent in the 1980s and 8 per cent in the 1990s.
Although the Marriage Foundation cautions that interest does not always translate into signed agreements, the appetite is clear. Around 60 per cent of men and 58 per cent of women surveyed said they might consider one before marriage.
Are British Asians among this rising trend?
Sohinni Sanghvi, Senior Associate at JMW Solicitors specialises in divorce and matrimonial work including Pre and Post Nuptial settlements and she has noticed a particularly sharp increase among Indian and other Asian clients seeking a PNA before marriage. According to her, today, around 20% of Asian couples enter into a PNA, an extraordinary shift from the 1970s, when only 1.5% of surveyed marriages included such agreements. Meanwhile, 58% of women now say they would routinely consider a PNA.
Socioeconomic status remains a factor. Nearly half of married respondents from higher-income households said they would sign a prenup, compared with 37 per cent of those from lower-income groups. Asian families, usually male, high net worth client who was keen to protect his pre-acquired wealth and may have had an unpleasant experience with the breakdown of a previous marriage are keen on this as well, explained Sohinni. She said, “Whilst a PNA is still sought after by those who fall into such a category, like the many families I work with, these contracts have evolved and progressed with the passage of time, to account for the needs of modern family structures and dynamics.
“PNAs are now increasingly common, often forming a regular part of the wedding planning and they can regulate more than just premarital or inherited wealth particularly where families are spreading internationally, whilst retaining their grass roots in the UK.”
Meena Kumari, Director and Solicitor at Duncan Lewis solicitor also shares her opinion adding, “As the wealth of British Asian increases and reaches new heights so does the necessity to protect investments and assets. With many British Asians marrying later in life, they often have acquired more assets.”
What does this trend reflect?
As with many areas of family law, shifting attitudes toward PNAs closely reflect broader societal changes, expressed Sohinni. “The growing use of PNAs among Asian families in particular offers a compelling anthropological lens through which we can see that long-standing tradition intersects with modern practicality, and the reasons behind this trend are genuinely fascinating.”
According to her, apart from a transparent way to protect generational wealth, PNA now helps both partners protect pre-acquired savings or investments in a way that simply wasn’t needed two decades ago.
She further expressed that while some in the community still view prenups as overly commercial or culturally uncomfortable, they in fact provide clarity, reduce future conflict and ease pressure on extended families. Far from undermining trust, PNAs encourage openness and allow couples to honour tradition while embracing modern, responsible planning.
Meena also adds to this adding that as the taboo around divorce has fallen, so will the choice not to marry. Pre-nuptial arrangements and strategic assets planning will become the norm. “Marriage will continue falling out of favour as the battle between tradition and cultural expectations for British men and women continues”, she said.
