Whether you are having a small simple ceremony or a massive dream wedding, concluding the usual civil marriage or even a civil union (commonly known as gay marriage), the fact is that you are entering into a legally binding agreement.

The ceremony will be over quickly, but the legal consequences are forever and with today’s economic risks, you cannot afford not to have the conclusion of an antenuptial agreement (commonly known as a prenup) in your wedding budget. It is not about distrust between the partners, but rather ensuring that proper financial planning is done and assets may be protected from undeserving creditors.

Getting married (or entering a civil union) without one, automatically makes the marriage regime applicable to your marriage in community of property, which is just bad estate planning, limits your contractual capacities and could put both partners’ assets at risk later on in life. Changing the regime after marriage is a long, difficult and expensive court process and it is thus very important to have the prenup in place before the wedding.

International bridal couples are also welcome to contact us for advice on the legalities of getting married in South Africa.