Frequently Asked Questions

There is no legally defined difference between these types of agreements — their names simply relate to the stage of the relationship when the agreement is made. Under BC’s Family Law Act, there is no distinction between any type of proactive family agreement. What matters is how the agreement is drafted and executed.

BC courts regularly enforce family agreements, and we follow the best practices that give yours the strongest chance of being upheld — full financial disclosure, independent legal advice for each partner, voluntary signing, and careful drafting that reflects what both parties actually understood and intended. That said, no lawyer can guarantee any agreement will hold up in every circumstance. Section 93 of the Family Law Act gives BC courts the power to set agreements aside if they find significant unfairness or procedural problems at the time of signing. Our job is to follow the practices that make that as unlikely as possible.

One flat fee of $3,000 plus applicable taxes for a prenuptial, cohabitation, or postnuptial agreement. That’s the entire fee — it never increases, and it covers up to six months of unlimited calls, emails, revisions, and legal advice related to your agreement, plus an execution meeting and independent legal advice. Already have a proactive agreement drafted elsewhere? We also offer ILA-only review for a flat $1,250. See the Pricing page for the full breakdown.

We don’t. Freedom Family Law has a deliberate, exclusive focus on proactive agreements — prenuptial, cohabitation, and postnuptial — and we do them exceptionally well. We’re happy to refer you to a lawyer who drafts separation agreements if you need one.

On our end, we move fast: once we receive your financial disclosure, we prepare your custom first draft within one week (and in rush situations, we have taken clients from initial intake to a fully signed, executed agreement in as little as 6 days). However, the overall start-to-finish timeline depends mostly on how quickly you and your partner gather financial documents, review drafts, and schedule Independent Legal Advice with a second lawyer. Because couples and opposing lawyers often take their time with those steps, an average agreement takes 3+ months from start to finish — which is exactly why our flat fee covers you for up to six full months. Whether you want to move at a relaxed pace or need to sprint before a wedding date, we move as fast as you do.

While having a lawyer is not a formal requirement under BC’s Family Law Act, we strongly recommend that each partner gets Independent Legal Advice (ILA) from their own lawyer — it is the best way to protect your agreement from being challenged or set aside later. Because one lawyer cannot represent both partners, our $3,000 flat fee covers custom drafting, unlimited revisions, and ILA for you. Your partner can then take the draft to their own lawyer for ILA, which typically costs between $500 and $1,250 depending on the lawyer they choose. If their lawyer requests changes, we incorporate those revisions at no additional cost to you.

Yes. The consultation is completely free, no obligation. During this call, you’ll speak with a member of our team who will gather information about your situation and help determine whether our services are the right fit.

You’re not legally required to have a lawyer draft your agreement, but it’s strongly recommended. A properly drafted agreement is much more likely to be enforceable if it’s ever challenged, and a lawyer ensures it’s clear, fair, and meets all the technical requirements of the Family Law Act.

No. It is a common misconception that a prenuptial agreement must be signed weeks or months before the wedding. BC courts have enforced prenuptial agreements signed even the day before marriage. What matters to a court isn’t an arbitrary calendar deadline — it’s the factual circumstances around the signing, specifically that both partners provided full financial disclosure, were not pressured, and had the opportunity to receive proper Independent Legal Advice (ILA). If your wedding date is close and everyone is ready to move quickly, book a call right away so we can fast-track your agreement.

In a proactive agreement, you can customize the rules for almost all financial matters — including how pre-relationship assets, real estate, business interests, inheritances, gifts, and debts are kept separate or shared, as well as whether spousal support will be paid or waived if you ever separate. However, under BC’s Family Law Act, binding arrangements regarding child support or parenting time/custody can only be made in an agreement reached after separation or when couples are about to separate — they cannot be pre-determined ahead of time in a prenuptial, cohabitation, or postnuptial agreement.

Back-and-forth revisions are completely normal. We regularly incorporate feedback requested by your partner’s lawyer at no additional cost — that’s why our $3,000 flat fee includes up to six months of unlimited calls, emails, and revisions. In our experience, six months is plenty of time as long as everyone is reasonably diligent, and if delays on the other side ever require an extension, we can easily discuss that with you. Our entire business model is built around making sure you get the right agreement without watching a billable clock.