Prenup Cost: Average Fees Explained

A prenuptial agreement is a contract a couple signs before marriage. It can set out how property and debts are handled if the marriage ends, and it can address things like business interests, inheritances, and support. The price depends on how much needs to be negotiated and who helps you draft it.

The cost is not only the document. Many states expect each partner to have a fair chance to review the agreement, and some couples hire separate lawyers for that reason. This page lists published prices; consult a licensed attorney in your state about your own agreement.

Online prenup services offer flat-fee packages, with optional lawyer help at extra cost. They are built for couples who already agree on the main terms.

HelloPrenup's online prenup is $599 per couple, and a package that adds an attorney for each partner is $2,197. CNBC Select lists Clause at $549 for the basic package and $699 for full protection. A Neptune bundle that includes two attorneys is listed at $5,000.

Flat-fee services often break out extras. These can add up if you want more than a form.

E-notarization is $50 per couple on HelloPrenup. An attorney Q&A session is $49 per partner, and full attorney representation is $799 per partner. Representation matters because a prenup is generally harder to challenge when each side had independent legal advice, though the rules depend on your state.

Hiring a traditional attorney to draft and negotiate costs more than an online package. Fees depend on how many assets are involved and how many rounds of revision it takes. Two lawyers, one for each partner, double the legal fees but can make the agreement more defensible later.

HelloPrenup lists traditional attorney prenups at $4,500 – $10,000. Other sources describe a single average figure, covered below. Ask any lawyer whether they bill hourly or flat, and what the fee includes.

• Assets and debts. A business, real estate, or investments raise the drafting time.
• Disagreement. Each negotiated clause adds hours.
• One lawyer or two. Separate counsel adds fees but strengthens the agreement.
• State law. Rules about disclosure and enforceability differ.
• Timing. Rushed agreements near the wedding date may cost more, and signing too late can invite challenges.
• Special terms. Support, family property, or children from a prior marriage add complexity.

Online prenup

• Much lower cost and quick to complete
• Works best for couples who agree on terms and have simple finances
• Lawyer review is available on some services for an added fee
• Limited room for complicated negotiation

Attorney-drafted prenup

• Higher cost, but tailored to your state and facts
• Better for business owners, high earners, or blended families
• Independent counsel for each partner supports the agreement's validity
• More time for negotiation

Several well-known sources quote the same average, so it can look like a settled number. It is not three independent findings. The Experian, LegalZoom, and SmartAsset figures all trace back to the same 2024 survey, so they repeat one data point rather than confirming each other.

Each of the three sources gives $8,000 as the average. The only separate estimate in the table is HelloPrenup, which reports $4,500 – $10,000 for a traditional attorney route. An average also hides a lot: an online prenup and a negotiated two-lawyer agreement have little in common, so use the range rather than a single figure when budgeting.

Start early. Most prenup problems come from signing in a hurry. Each partner generally needs to share a full picture of their assets and debts, and gathering that information takes time. Giving both people several weeks to read, ask questions, and revise lowers the chance that a court later questions whether the agreement was signed freely. Rules on disclosure and review periods differ by state, so a licensed attorney in your state can tell you what applies.

• Is the price per couple or per partner?
• Does it include a lawyer for each of us, or only for one?
• What does notarization cost, and is it required in my state?
• How many revisions are included?
• What happens to the agreement if either of us moves to another state?