A prenuptial agreement drafted and reviewed by lawyers typically costs $1,000–$10,000 in total, depending on complexity and negotiation; LegalZoom cites averages of about $890 to draft a simple prenup and $510 to review one. Online services start around $599 per couple (company price). Figures as of October 2026 (LegalZoom, The Knot, HelloPrenup, Clio).
Updated October 10, 2026. Source: LegalZoom + 6 more. National US figures; your state and case will differ.
The price depends on how much each partner owns, how much the two of you negotiate and whether each of you has your own lawyer, which most family lawyers recommend and some states effectively require for certain terms.
Prenup costs at a glance
Ranges from LegalZoom (2024), The Knot (2024), HelloPrenup's published prices and Clio's 2025 hourly rates, checked October 2026.
| Fee arrangement or scenario | Typical cost | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Total with lawyers, typical range | $1,000–$10,000 | Depends on assets, negotiation and location (LegalZoom; The Knot) |
| Drafting a simple prenup (average) | About $890 | One lawyer drafts a straightforward agreement (LegalZoom) |
| Reviewing a prenup (average) | About $510 | The other partner's lawyer reviews and advises (LegalZoom) |
| Hourly rate for prenup lawyers | $250–$1,000 per hour | The Knot; Clio family-law averages are $268–$429 by state |
| Online prenup, no assigned lawyer | $599 per couple | HelloPrenup company price |
| Online prenup + a lawyer for each partner | $2,197 per couple | HelloPrenup: $599 plus $799 per partner |
| Complex, negotiated agreement | $1,500–$10,000+ | Businesses, trusts, children from prior marriages (The Knot) |
Prenup cost by route
How the main ways to get a prenup compare. Lawyer figures are averages or ranges, not quotes.
| Route | Typical cost | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Online template, no lawyer | About $599 per couple | Cheapest; enforceability risk if one partner gives up rights without advice |
| Online agreement + attorney review | About $2,197 per couple | Fixed price with representation for both partners |
| Lawyer drafts, other lawyer reviews | About $1,400 (simple) to several thousand | $890 drafting + $510 review averages; rises with negotiation |
| Fully negotiated, high-asset agreement | $10,000+ | Appraisals and financial advisers may add cost |
What changes the price
- Complexity of finances. Businesses, investments, real estate, debts and expected inheritances mean more drafting and disclosure, pushing costs toward the top of the $1,000–$10,000 range.
- Negotiation. Every round of revisions is billed by both lawyers. Agreeing on the main terms before meeting a lawyer keeps the hours down.
- Location. Family lawyers average $410/hour in California and $429/hour in New York versus $268/hour in Ohio (Clio, 2025).
- Separate lawyers. Each partner normally needs their own lawyer. In California, an agreement is presumed involuntary unless the party had independent counsel or waived it in writing, and the party must have 7 calendar days between receiving the final agreement and signing.
- Spousal support and children from prior relationships. Provisions on alimony, estate planning or children from a previous marriage add drafting time; in California, waiving spousal support generally requires the waiving party to have a lawyer.
- Extra advisers. Appraisers, accountants and financial advisers bill separately when assets must be valued.
How to save without sacrificing quality
- Agree on the big-picture terms as a couple before paying for lawyer time.
- Prepare full financial disclosure lists (assets, debts, income) yourselves; lawyers bill hourly to gather them.
- Ask for a flat fee for drafting or review; many family lawyers quote one for prenups.
- Consider an online service plus independent attorney review rather than full custom drafting for straightforward finances.
- Start at least a few months before the wedding so rushed revisions do not add cost or raise questions about voluntariness.
- Compare at least two lawyers; free or low-cost consultations are common.
Related questions people ask
How much does a prenup lawyer cost?
Prenup lawyers bill $250–$1,000 per hour according to The Knot, or a flat fee. LegalZoom reports average fees of about $890 to draft a simple prenup and $510 to review one; negotiated agreements cost several thousand dollars.
How much does a prenuptial agreement cost for both partners?
With a separate lawyer for each partner, a simple agreement runs roughly $1,400 at average draft-and-review fees, while complex ones reach $10,000+. HelloPrenup's online package with two attorneys is $2,197 per couple (company price).
What to get in writing: the fee agreement
Before you pay anything, ask for a written fee agreement (engagement letter) that spells out:
- Whether the fee is flat or hourly, and how many drafts or revision rounds a flat fee includes.
- Which partner the lawyer represents; one lawyer cannot represent both of you.
- Whether the fee covers reviewing the other side's financial disclosures and negotiating changes.
- Costs for notarization, appraisals or financial advisers, and who pays them.
- Timeline: when you will get the first draft and the final version, so state waiting periods are met before the wedding.
- Whether updates or a postnuptial amendment later are billed at the same rate.
FAQ
Can we use one lawyer for a prenup?
A lawyer can represent only one partner. The other partner should have independent counsel; in California, lacking a lawyer or a written waiver can make the agreement presumed involuntary.
Are online prenups valid?
They can be, if they meet your state's formal requirements and both partners make full disclosure and sign voluntarily. Adding attorney review lowers the risk that a court refuses to enforce it.
Does it cost money to enforce a prenup?
Enforcement usually happens in a divorce, so the cost is part of your divorce attorney fees. A clear, well-drafted agreement can shorten the property and support fights that drive divorce costs; see cost of divorce.
More Divorce & Family guides
Related fee guides
Sources
- LegalZoom — How Much Does a Prenup Cost? (updated Jul 29, 2024). Checked October 10, 2026.
- The Knot — How Much Does a Prenup Cost? (updated Oct 14, 2024). Checked October 10, 2026.
- HelloPrenup — Pricing (company prices) (accessed Oct 2026). Checked October 10, 2026.
- California Family Code (via Public.Law) — § 1615: Premarital agreements, enforcement and voluntariness (accessed Oct 2026). Checked October 10, 2026.
- Clio — Legal Trends: lawyer rates in California (family law $410/hour) (2025 data). Checked October 10, 2026.
- Clio — Legal Trends: lawyer rates in New York (family law $429/hour) (2025 data). Checked October 10, 2026.
- Clio — Legal Trends: lawyer rates in Ohio (family law $268/hour) (2025 data). Checked October 10, 2026.
Fee figures are estimates and vary by state, lawyer and case. See our methodology and editorial policy. Browse all divorce & family fee guides.