Prenuptial Agreements by Country: Validity in 36 Jurisdictions
Prenuptial agreements are recognised in most legal systems, but the conditions for validity — notarisation, independent advice, fairness review — differ sharply. This reference compares the governing law for 36 jurisdictions, with a free, locally-drafted prenuptial agreement template for each.
Why prenuptial agreement law differs by country
Marital property is governed by family or civil-code rules that an agreement can modify only within statutory limits. Common-law jurisdictions treat a prenup as a contract a court will uphold if it was entered freely, with disclosure and (often) independent legal advice. Many civil-law systems instead let couples choose a statutory matrimonial-property regime by formal deed before a notary — Spain's capitulaciones matrimoniales, France's contrat de mariage, Germany's Ehevertrag. Courts in some countries retain a power to set aside an agreement that is unconscionable or that prejudices children. These differences are why the template differs per jurisdiction.
Governing statute & free template by country
| Country | Primary governing statute | Free prenuptial template |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Código Civil y Comercial Arts. 446–448 (Ley 26.994) | Convenio Matrimonial de Separación de Bienes — Argentina |
| Australia | Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) Part VIIIA, s 90B/90UB | Prenuptial Agreement — Binding Financial Agreement (Australia) |
| Austria | Allgemeines Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (ABGB) §§1217–1266; Notariatsordnung (NO) RGBl Nr. 75/1871 | Ehepakt Österreich |
| Belgium | Code civil belge livre 2 ; art. 1387-1581 (régimes matrimoniaux) ; Loi du 22 juillet 2018 réformant les régimes | Contrat de Mariage |
| Brazil | Código Civil Art. 1.653 | Pacto Antenupcial Brasil |
| Canada | Provincial family-property legislation + Divorce Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. 3 (2nd Supp.)) | Marriage Contract / Prenuptial Agreement (Canada) |
| Chile | Código Civil Arts. 1715–1739 (Capitulaciones Matrimoniales) | Prenuptial Agreement Chile (Capitulaciones Matrimoniales) |
| Colombia | Código Civil arts. 1771-1780; Decreto Ley 960/1970 | Prenuptial Agreement Colombia (Capitulaciones Matrimoniales) |
| Denmark | Ægtefælleloven (LBK nr 54 af 23. januar 2018) | Ægtepagt |
| Finland | Avioliittolaki (234/1929) 35 pykala avio-oikeus; 41 pykala avioehtosopimus; 42 pykala muoto ja todistajat; 43 pykala rekisterointi Digi- ja vaestotietovirastoon; 103 b pykala sovittelu | Prenuptial Agreement Finland (Avioehtosopimus) |
| France | Code civil art. 1387 (liberté conventions matrimoniales) ; art. 1394-1395 (forme et date) ; art. 1536 à 1543 (séparation de biens) | Contrat de Mariage — Séparation de Biens |
| Germany | BGB § 1408 (Ehevertrag); BGB §§ 1363–1390 (Zugewinngemeinschaft); BeurkG § 6 (Beurkundungspflicht) | Ehevertrag Deutschland |
| Ghana | Matrimonial Causes Act 1971 (Act 367) | Prenuptial Agreement (Ghana) |
| Hong Kong | Matrimonial Proceedings and Property Ordinance (Cap. 192) | Prenuptial Agreement (Hong Kong) |
| India | Indian Contract Act, 1872 | Prenuptial Agreement (India) |
| Ireland | Family Law Act 1995 | Prenuptial Agreement (Ireland) |
| Italy | artt. 159-162 c.c. (convenzioni matrimoniali) / art. 215 c.c. | Accordo Patrimoniale tra Nubendi/Coniugi |
| Kenya | Matrimonial Property Act No. 49 of 2013 | Prenuptial Agreement (Kenya) |
| Malaysia | Contracts Act 1950 (Act 136) | Prenuptial Agreement (Malaysia) |
| Mexico | Código Civil Federal art. 179; CCF arts. 183–206 | Matrimonial Capitulations Mexico (Capitulaciones Matrimoniales) |
| Netherlands | BW 1:114 t/m 1:119 (huwelijkse voorwaarden); BW 1:94 (beperkte gemeenschap sinds 2018); Wet op het notarisambt (Wna) | Huwelijkse Voorwaarden |
| New Zealand | Property (Relationships) Act 1976 | Contracting Out Agreement (Prenuptial Agreement) — New Zealand |
| Nigeria | Contract Law (received English common law) | Prenuptial Agreement (Nigeria) |
| Norway | Ekteskapsloven (1991) paragraf 42 om saereie; paragraf 50 om gaver mellom ektefeller; paragraf 54 om formkrav til ektepakt; paragraf 55 om tinglysing i Ektepaktregisteret; paragraf 58 om likedeling av felleseie | Prenuptial Agreement Norway (Ektepakt) |
| Pakistan | Muslim Family Laws Ordinance 1961 | Prenuptial Agreement (Pakistan) |
| Philippines | Civil Code of the Philippines (RA 386) | Prenuptial Agreement (Philippines) |
| Poland | Kodeks rodzinny i opiekuńczy (Dz.U. 1964 nr 9 poz. 59) — art. 47 | Majątkowa umowa małżeńska (intercyza) |
| Portugal | Código Civil (DL 47 344/66) artigos 1698.º, 1714.º, 1717.º, 1735.º e 1736.º | Prenuptial Agreement — Separation of Assets Portugal (Convenção Antenupcial) |
| Quebec | Civil Code of Québec (CCQ), art. 431-492 | Prenuptial Agreement (Quebec) |
| Singapore | Women's Charter 1961 (Cap. 353) | Prenuptial Agreement (Singapore) |
| Spain | Código Civil (Real Decreto de 24 de julio de 1889), Artículos 1315–1444 | Prenuptial Agreement (Capitulaciones Matrimoniales) Spain |
| Sweden | Äktenskapsbalken (1987:230) 7 kap. § 3 (äktenskapsförord och enskild egendom); 9-13 kap. (bodelning); 12 kap. § 3 (jämkning av oskäligt äktenskapsförord) | Prenuptial Agreement Sweden (Äktenskapsförord) |
| Switzerland | Swiss Civil Code (ZGB) art. 181-251 | Prenuptial Agreement Switzerland (Ehevertrag) |
| United Arab Emirates | Personal Status Federal Decree-Law No. 41 of 2024 | Prenuptial Agreement (UAE) |
| United Kingdom | Matrimonial Causes Act 1973; Radmacher v Granatino [2010] UKSC 42 | Prenuptial Agreement (UK) |
| United States | Restatement (Second) of Contracts | Prenuptial Agreement |
Statutes shown are the primary governing act; the specific requirements are set out on each linked country page. All 36 template links verified live on 2026-06-25.
Frequently asked questions
Is a prenuptial agreement legally binding?
In most jurisdictions a prenuptial agreement is binding if it meets local formality and fairness requirements — typically full financial disclosure, no duress, and in many countries notarisation and/or independent legal advice. Some courts retain a discretion to override terms that are unfair at the time of divorce. This table lists the governing rule for 36 jurisdictions.
Does a prenup need to be notarised?
In most civil-law countries, yes — the agreement must be executed as a public deed before a notary to be valid (for example Spain, France, Germany, Portugal, Italy). Common-law countries generally do not require notarisation but do expect signing formalities, disclosure and often independent advice. The country page states the local requirement.
Can a prenup decide child custody or support?
No. Across these jurisdictions, agreements that purport to fix child custody, contact or child support are not binding on a court — the child's best interests are decided at the time and cannot be contracted away in advance. A prenup deals with property and spousal arrangements; child matters are excluded.
Are these prenuptial templates free?
Yes. forms-legal.com provides a free, jurisdiction-specific prenuptial / marriage-property agreement template for every country listed, as PDF or Word with no signup.
About this comparison
Each entry maps a jurisdiction to its primary governing statute and to the matching free template on forms-legal.com. The data is curated from our multi-jurisdiction legal document library; the linked country pages carry the full, locally-drafted document and the current statutory detail. Templates are free to download as PDF or Word with no signup. This is reference information, not legal advice.