For most couples the first question about a prenuptial agreement is a practical one: how much does a prenuptial agreement cost? The honest answer is that it depends on the complexity of your finances and how much negotiation the agreement requires — but understanding what drives the price helps you budget realistically and avoid the false economy of a cheap agreement that fails when you need it.
What a prenuptial agreement typically costs
In California, a straightforward prenuptial agreement between two people with relatively simple finances commonly runs in the low thousands of dollars per side, while a complex agreement involving a business, significant separate property, or heavily negotiated support terms can cost several times that. Because California law effectively requires that each party have the opportunity for independent counsel, a realistic budget accounts for two attorneys — one advising each partner — not one. That is not an upsell; it is the single biggest factor in whether the agreement holds up later.
What drives the price of a prenup
Several things move prenup prices up or down, and the prenup cost is rarely a single flat number. The volume and complexity of assets matters most — a couple with a home, retirement accounts, and a business needs more drafting and disclosure work than a couple starting out with modest savings. The amount of negotiation matters too: an agreement both partners broadly agree on is far less expensive than one contested through several rounds of revisions. Finally, the required financial disclosures — each party must fairly disclose their finances for the agreement to be enforceable — take time to prepare properly.
Flat fee or hourly
Some family law attorneys draft prenuptial agreements for a flat fee and others bill hourly; each approach has trade-offs, and the right one depends on how predictable your agreement is. At your consultation, Furubotten Law, APC explains the fee structure clearly so you know what to expect before any work begins.
Why the cheapest prenup is often the most expensive
Online templates and DIY pre marriage agreement forms advertise low prices, but they are also the agreements most often thrown out in a divorce. California enforceability rules are strict: under Family Code section 1615, an agreement can be set aside if it was not signed voluntarily, if there was no full and fair financial disclosure, or if it is unconscionable — and a spousal support waiver is unenforceable unless the waiving party had independent counsel. A prenup that is invalidated provides exactly zero protection at the moment you were relying on it, which makes the money spent on a bargain form a total loss. Paying for a properly drafted, properly executed agreement is what actually protects the assets you set out to protect.
Talk to Furubotten Law
Every page on this site ends the same way it began: with a real lawyer. If you are navigating any of the issues discussed above, Denise Furubotten, Esq. brings 30 years of California family law experience to your matter. Call Furubotten Law, APC at (714) 795-3862 to schedule a confidential evaluation.