Prenuptial agreements and postnuptial agreements have emerged in recent years as valuable tools for couples getting married to secure their futures, whether together or apart. While they may once have been seen only as an option for wealthy, high-profile couples, the last decade has seen these arrangements become a truly mainstream option, delivering significant benefits for families.

But how does the UK public perceive prenuptial agreements? Do people generally have a good understanding of how these agreements work and how they are arranged? Are they seen as a force for good? These are just some of the questions we sought to answer in our recent survey of public attitudes to prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, which polled 2,475 UK adults to get a sense of their sentiments.

The survey findings revealed some fascinating insights into how prenuptial and postnuptial agreements are becoming more widely accepted than ever in the UK - as well as some of the barriers that might be preventing them from being adopted further.

Take a look at the analysis and full survey results below.

Our key findings

• 70% believe that prenuptial agreements are becoming more popular
• 66% say they see prenuptial agreements as a force for good
• Only 28% of respondents feel they are certain about what a prenuptial agreement entails, and only 21% say they would know exactly how to go about drawing up a prenuptial agreement
• 36% see prenuptial agreements as something for everyone, whereas 16% believe that prenups are only for celebrities and high-profile or wealthy individuals
• 21% of those polled say they would insist on getting a prenuptial agreement when getting married, while a further 48% would consider it
• 51% of those polled do not feel that creating a prenuptial agreement is unromantic
• 78% agree that prenuptial agreements can help to prevent future legal disputes
• 58% said they have heard of postnuptial agreements, and would know when they apply
• Of those who have had a prenuptial agreement, the process of getting the agreement was highlighted as the biggest challenge (29%), followed by informing friends and family (21%), and convincing their partner to get one (17%)

Breaking down the figures

The headline findings of our survey show that most people have a positive perception of prenuptial agreements overall, but that there are certain gaps in public understanding of how they work, as well as a few preconceptions that remain.

Here, we break down the statistics further to provide additional insights into what may be  motivating these trends.

Most people accept prenuptial agreements as a positive force

Several findings from our survey offer evidence that most people in the UK now perceive prenuptial and postnuptial agreements as a positive and beneficial option for couples getting married.

• Two-thirds (66%) of those polled agreed with the statement that prenuptial agreements are a force for good, including 10% who strongly agreed with this idea
• 70% feel that prenuptial agreements are becoming more popular, including 12% who strongly agree with this
• 78% agree that prenuptial agreements can help prevent future legal disputes, including 21% expressing strong agreement
• 65% expressed confidence that a prenuptial agreement would make a divorce go more smoothly, with 12% strongly agreeing
• 48% of respondents say they would consider getting a prenuptial agreement, while 21% said they will insist on getting one when they get married

Traditional preconceptions about prenups are breaking down

In the past, prenuptial agreements were seen as a tool primarily used by high-profile celebrity couples or those who held expensive assets. There has also been a preconception that prenups can damage the romance of preparing for marriage. However, our survey shows that some of these beliefs may be breaking down:

• When asked whether they believe that prenuptial agreements are only for celebrities, high-profile or wealthy individuals, only 16% said they agree with this. By comparison, 28% said they somewhat disagree with the statement, and a further 36% went further, saying they believe prenuptial agreements are for everyone
• When asked whether they feel that creating a prenuptial agreement is unromantic, a slim majority (51%) said they do not believe this is the case
• 63% of those polled said they disagree that prenuptial agreements create a power imbalance between partners

There are still gaps in people’s understanding of how prenups work

Although awareness and positive sentiments towards prenuptial and postnuptial agreements are on the rise, our survey showed that there are still some key gaps in the public’s understanding of how they work:

• 30% of respondents to our survey have personally had a prenuptial agreement themselves, lower than the 45% who have not had one, despite being or having been married
• Only 28% of respondents said they are certain of what a prenuptial agreement entails, with 52% saying they think they know. 15% said they were unsure, and 4% had no idea
• Only 21% said they would know exactly how to draw up a prenuptial agreement, with 39% having a general idea. 28% said they were unsure, and 12% said they would have no idea
• 58% said they have heard of postnuptial agreements and know when they apply, suggesting a reasonable level of knowledge of this option. However, 53% did not know a prenuptial agreement can be reviewed and changed after it has been drafted and signed
• Among those who have had a prenuptial agreement, the largest percentage - 29% - said that difficulties with the process of getting the agreement was the most challenging aspect
• For those who are not considering a prenuptial agreement, 65% simply do not feel like they need one, while 27% say they are unfamiliar with the process
• Even among those who are considering a prenuptial agreement, 42% said they have a lack of knowledge about the process

Some preconceptions about prenuptial agreements continue to persist

Our survey also provided some evidence that some of the negative perceptions about prenuptial agreements continue to exist, despite their increasingly widespread acceptance:

• Among respondents who have had a prenuptial agreement, 21% said the biggest challenge was telling their friends and family, suggesting that these agreements may still have some “baggage” attached to them
• A further 17% said the biggest challenge was convincing their partner to get one
• 49% still believe that getting a prenuptial agreement is unromantic
• 34% do not agree that prenuptial agreements are a force for good, while 37% think they can create a power imbalance between partners