Congratulations on your upcoming marriage! Alongside the venue and the guest list, there is one practical thing worth planning: how you will handle your finances together. A marriage agreement, sometimes called a prenuptial agreement, lets the two of you set your own terms in writing before the wedding, while you are happy and getting along.
An agreement says nothing bad about your relationship. Think of it as the relationship equivalent of wearing sunscreen: it protects you from getting burned and doesn't ruin the vibe.
Marriage Agreements in Vancouver
Why get one?
A marriage agreement can help you:
Decide what happens to property and support if you ever separate
Protect money that came from parents, inheritances or savings built up before the relationship
Record who owns what, including the home and anything you each bring into it
Agree how bills and household costs will be shared
Settle all of this now, while everyone is calm and caffeinated
What does it cost?
We charge a fixed fee, so you know the cost before any work begins. All prices are plus tax.
$2,000 for a standard agreement covering property, finances and support
An additional $500 if children are involved
An additional $500 if a company, business or trust is part of the picture
A couple with children and a family company, for example, would pay $3,000 plus tax.
One of you will also need independent legal advice before signing. That advice is provided separately with an independent lawyer who explains the agreement and checks that you understand it and are signing freely. This protects you both, because an agreement made with proper disclosure and independent advice is much harder to challenge later. The lawyer giving independent legal advice will charge separately for their service.
Give us a call or fill out our online form. It’s easier than deciding whose turn it is to empty the dishwasher.
Ready to take the next step?
How it works
You get in touch with us, or we receive a referral, and we have an initial call to find out what you need.
We send you a comprehensive questionnaire. Each of you makes choices about what you want in the agreement, and the form raises issues you may not have thought of.
We meet again to go through your answers. We give you a list of financial disclosure to exchange with each other.
We prepare the agreement based on your choices and the disclosure.
Each of you then receives independent legal advice from one of our trusted partner firms, and you sign.
If you both return the questionnaire and exchange disclosure promptly, we can usually have you ready for independent legal advice within three weeks.