How Much Does a Prenup Cost in Canada?
A traditional lawyer-drafted prenup in Canada usually costs $1,500 to $5,000 or more per person. Because each partner needs their own lawyer, couples often spend $3,000 to $10,000+ in total. Online and DIY options cost a fraction of that. Here is the full picture for 2026.
Typical Prenup Costs in Canada
There is no single "prenup price," because cost depends on how you create the agreement and how complex your finances are. As a rough guide:
| Option | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Lawyer-drafted prenup (per person) | $1,500 – $5,000+ |
| Lawyer-drafted, complex assets / negotiation | $5,000 – $10,000+ per couple |
| Online prenup service | A few hundred dollars |
| Independent legal advice (review only, per person) | $300 – $800 |
The wide range reflects lawyer hourly rates (commonly $250–$600+ per hour in Canada), the time required, and the number of back-and-forth revisions between two lawyers.
What Drives the Cost
If you are getting quotes from family lawyers, the price is mostly a function of time. The biggest cost drivers are:
- Complexity of your assets. A salaried couple with simple finances costs far less than a couple with businesses, real estate, investments, trusts, or international assets.
- Two lawyers, not one. Proper prenups require each party to have independent legal advice, so you are effectively paying two separate professionals.
- Negotiation rounds. Every revision and exchange between the two lawyers adds billable hours.
- Financial disclosure. Preparing and reviewing full disclosure of assets and debts takes time but is essential to enforceability.
- Urgency. Rushing an agreement close to the wedding date can mean premium rates and is also legally risky.
The Online / DIY Alternative
The most expensive part of a traditional prenup is having a lawyer draft the document from a blank page. Online services remove that step by using a guided questionnaire to generate a province-appropriate agreement, which dramatically lowers the cost. Canadian Prenup is built around exactly this model: you answer questions about your situation, and the platform produces a written agreement designed to comply with your province's requirements, for a fraction of typical lawyer fees. You can see current pricing on our pricing page.
A sensible, cost-effective approach for many couples is to draft the agreement online and then pay each lawyer only for a focused independent legal advice review rather than a full drafting engagement, capturing most of the savings while keeping the enforceability benefits of legal advice.
Create a province-compliant prenup online, then have it reviewed if you choose.
See Pricing & Get StartedIndependent Legal Advice Costs
Independent legal advice (ILA) means each partner has a separate lawyer confirm they understand the agreement and are signing voluntarily. When the document is already prepared, ILA is usually a short, focused engagement that costs a few hundred dollars per person, rather than the thousands a full drafting retainer would run. In Alberta, this kind of acknowledgement before a lawyer is effectively required for a property agreement to bind, so budget for it there in particular.
Cost vs. Value: Is a Prenup Worth It?
Compared with the potential cost of litigating property division after a separation, which can run into tens of thousands of dollars, a prenup is generally an inexpensive form of certainty. Whether you choose a full lawyer engagement or an online document plus legal review, the goal is the same: a clear, enforceable agreement that both partners understand. For more on what makes an agreement hold up, see are prenups legal in Canada and our FAQ.