Pre-nuptial agreements

A pre-nuptial agreement (also called an ante-nuptial agreement) is an agreement between two people who plan to marry each other in relation to property, maintenance and custody arrangements if their marriage should break down.

Pre-nuptial agreements have no basis in law in Ireland. As a result, they are not strictly binding. This means that if you have a pre-nuptial agreement in place and you end up in court following the breakdown of your marriage, the judge is not bound by the terms of the pre-nuptial agreement.

The only provision in Irish law is under sections 113 and 113A of the Succession Act 1965 (as amended) where a spouse or a civil partner can renounce his/her legal right share in a pre-nuptial agreement.

Although they are not legally binding, there is nothing in Irish law which stops a couple planning to marry from having and signing a pre-nuptial agreement. Importantly, such agreements can serve as guides for the courts in judicial separation and divorce cases. If a pre-nuptial agreement makes ‘proper provision’ for each person it is more likely to be persuasive on the judge. Therefore, in situations where one party is likely to inherit a significant family farm or business, it will guide the judge in the divorce or judicial separation on what the parties’ intentions were at the outset.

Only pre-nuptial agreements entered into following independent legal advice for both parties are likely to be taken into account. The court would have to be satisfied that there had been a complete disclosure of assets before the agreement was signed. It is also advisable for the agreement to provide for reviews:

• Periodically (for example, every five years)
• If children are born
• If there is a major change in circumstances (for example, assets are purchased or sold)

The agreement should be in writing, be signed by each party and comply with the rules of contract law.

In April 2007, the Government published the Report of the Study Group on Pre-nuptial Agreements (pdf). The report recommended that pre-nuptial agreements be legislated for by way of introducing a new Section 16(2)A of the Family Law Act 1995 and new Section 20(3)A of the Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996 so that the courts would be required to have regard to existing pre-nuptial agreements when making ancillary relief orders in judicial separation and divorce proceedings.

The report also recommended that the legislation should contain procedural guidelines, that is, how a pre-nuptial agreement is drawn up, what is required for it to be enforceable. It is recommended that it must be:

• In writing, signed and witnessed
• Made after each party has received separate legal advice
• Made with full disclosure of financial information
• Made not less than 28 days before the marriage

The report also recommended that pre-nuptial agreements be reviewable on death. This is so that a court may make financial provision for a surviving spouse who may be unfairly affected by the provisions of a pre-nuptial agreement on the death of the other spouse in certain circumstances.

The report’s recommendations have not yet been implemented.

The Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010 allows cohabitants to enter into a cohabitants’ agreement to provide for financial matters during the relationship or when the relationship ends, whether through death or otherwise. However, the Act sets out that the agreement will only be valid if each person has had independent legal advice or the couple obtained legal advice together and have waived (in writing) the right to independent legal advice. The agreement must be in writing, signed by both parties and must comply with the general law of contract.

The Court can change or ignore such an agreement if its enforceability would cause serious injustice.

For further information on cohabitation, see ‘Rights of cohabiting couples (couples living together)’.