DC-licensed attorneys drafting prenuptial and postnuptial agreements for couples across the District. Flat-fee pricing, a fully virtual process, and an experienced attorney managing your agreement from consultation through signing.
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Prenuptial agreements in the District of Columbia are governed by the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act, codified at D.C. Code §§ 46-501 to 46-510, which took effect on February 9, 1996. The standard is well-established and shared with many UPAA states, which makes the rules for a valid and enforceable agreement relatively clear.
The District is an equitable distribution jurisdiction, not a community property one. Without a prenuptial agreement, a court divides marital property in a way it considers equitable, which is not the same as an even split and depends on the court’s assessment of the circumstances. A prenuptial agreement lets you decide these terms in advance rather than leaving them to a judge.
DC has one feature worth highlighting. Its premarital agreement law expressly applies to domestic partnerships as well as marriages. The statute covers agreements between prospective spouses and prospective domestic partners, and it addresses domestic partner support and the termination of a domestic partnership alongside the usual divorce provisions. So the same flat-fee, attorney-drafted process works whether you are entering a marriage or a registered domestic partnership in the District.
To be valid, a DC premarital agreement must be in writing and signed by both parties. It is enforceable without consideration and becomes effective on marriage or domestic partnership. DC does not require witnesses or notarization by statute, although notarization is strongly recommended and standard practice.
Under D.C. Code § 46-506, a DC premarital agreement is not enforceable if the party challenging it proves either:
The second ground is conjunctive, which works in favor of a well-prepared agreement. Unconscionability by itself is not enough. The challenger has to prove both that the agreement was unconscionable and that disclosure was inadequate. As a practical matter, a DC prenup backed by full, documented financial disclosure is difficult to challenge. The court decides the question of unconscionability as a matter of law.
DC uses the standard UPAA structure, and it favors a well-prepared agreement: to set one aside on fairness grounds, a challenger must prove both that it was unconscionable and that disclosure was inadequate. Full, documented financial disclosure is the single best protection. DC also stands out for covering domestic partnerships as well as marriages, so the same process protects couples entering either one.
$150, credited toward your agreement.
Custom to DC law, no templates.
Revisions included in the flat fee.
Fully virtual, with online notarization coordinated for you. DC does not impose a statutory waiting period or witness requirement, but we structure the process so the agreement is signed well before the wedding or partnership and with full, documented financial disclosure on both sides.
Flat fee. Clear scope. No surprises.
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We work with couples across Washington, DC, from Capitol Hill and Dupont Circle to Georgetown, Columbia Heights, Navy Yard, and every neighborhood in between. Because our entire process is virtual, where you live in the District makes no difference to the quality or speed of your agreement. You work directly with a DC-licensed attorney by video and secure document exchange, on a schedule that fits your timeline before the wedding or partnership.
If you searched for a prenup attorney near you, you do not need an office down the street. You need an attorney who focuses on prenuptial agreements, knows the District’s Uniform Premarital Agreement Act, and can manage the entire process from first consultation to final signature without you ever sitting in a waiting room. That is exactly what we do.
I spent years helping couples navigate divorce. The financial damage I saw was not inevitable. Assets split under laws couples never understood, decades of work undone. Most of it could have been addressed clearly and fairly before the wedding with a well-crafted prenuptial agreement. I built Prenups.com to make that process accessible for any couple that wants to start their marriage on the same page, financially and legally.
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A prenuptial agreement in the District of Columbia is a written contract signed before marriage or domestic partnership that sets out how a couple’s property, debts, and support will be handled if the relationship ends in divorce, termination, or death. These agreements are governed by the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act, D.C. Code §§ 46-501 et seq.
Yes. The District enforces prenuptial agreements under its Uniform Premarital Agreement Act. An agreement can be set aside only if the challenger proves they did not sign voluntarily, or that it was unconscionable when signed combined with inadequate financial disclosure. Because both must be shown for the second ground, a well-documented DC prenup is difficult to overturn.
A valid DC prenup must be in writing and signed by both parties, and is enforceable without consideration. To withstand challenge, it should be entered into voluntarily and supported by full and fair financial disclosure. DC does not require witnesses or notarization by statute, although notarization is strongly recommended.
At Prenups.com, a DC prenuptial agreement is a flat fee of $3,500. There is no hourly billing and no surprise charges. The fee includes drafting, all revisions and negotiation, and coordinated online signing. Postnuptial agreements are $4,500. Complex or high net worth matters are handled through our Platinum service starting at $10,000.
Most DC prenuptial agreements are completed in about two to three weeks from the initial consultation, depending on how quickly both parties review and respond. We recommend starting well before the wedding or partnership so there is no time pressure, since signing under pressure can support a later claim that the agreement was not voluntary.
Yes. A prenuptial agreement must be signed before the marriage or domestic partnership and becomes effective on that date. If you are already married or partnered, a postnuptial agreement is the equivalent document. DC does not set a fixed statutory waiting period, but signing well in advance helps demonstrate the agreement was entered into voluntarily.
Yes. Under D.C. Code § 46-506, a DC prenup can be set aside if the challenger proves they did not sign voluntarily, or that the agreement was unconscionable when signed and they were not given fair disclosure, did not waive disclosure in writing, and could not reasonably have known the other’s finances. Because unconscionability and inadequate disclosure must both be shown, full disclosure is a strong protection.
A DC prenup can address each party’s rights in property whenever acquired, the disposition of property on divorce, termination of a domestic partnership, or death, the modification or elimination of spousal or domestic partner support, the making of wills or trusts, and the protection of a business or professional practice.
A DC prenup cannot adversely affect a child’s right to support, which the court decides based on the child’s best interests. It also cannot be enforced if it was signed involuntarily or was unconscionable combined with inadequate disclosure, and it cannot include terms that violate public policy or law.
DC does not legally require each party to have a separate attorney. However, independent representation strengthens the conclusion that the agreement was signed voluntarily and with full understanding, which is directly relevant to enforceability. At a minimum, the party without counsel should have a clear, documented opportunity to obtain one.
Yes. A prenuptial agreement is one of the most effective ways to protect a business in the District. It can confirm that a business is separate property, address how growth in value during the marriage or partnership is treated, and prevent a partner or spouse from acquiring a marital interest in the company. This is especially important for founders, partners, and professional practice owners.
Yes. If you are already married or in a domestic partnership, a postnuptial agreement can address the same property, debt, and support questions as a prenuptial agreement. DC postnups rest on general contract principles rather than the premarital agreement statute, and should be in writing, signed voluntarily, and supported by fair disclosure. At Prenups.com, a DC postnuptial agreement is a flat fee of $4,500.
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