Will 2008 be 'the Year of the Postnup'?

This year will see an increasing number of couples signing post-nuptial agreements to determine what would happen to their finances in the event of a divorce.

According to Agreements.co.uk, 2008 looks set to be the "Year of the Postnup", as family law specialists at the online law firm asserted that there have been several recent cases wherein marital finances have been regulated with legal support.

Post-nups are similar to pre-nuptial agreements in so far as they determine the division of assets after divorce, should a legal separation take place. Unlike pre-nups, they are signed once a couple is already married.

Agreements.co.uk noted, however, that "postnups are subject to particular judicial scrutiny as to motive - spouses making threats if not signed, inducements if signed, those taking unfair advantage or trying to divorce on the cheap need not apply".

The site revealed that the number of lawyers reporting clients taking out both pre-nups and post-nups is rising. The average cost of a post-nup agreement from a family solicitor is anywhere between £1,500 and £3,000.

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