Quentin Davies (Lab, Grantham and Stamford) introduced the Pre-Nuptial Agreements Bill under a ten-minute rule motion.

The Bill would provide for the enforceability of pre-nuptial agreements. Introducing the Bill, Davies said the object of the Bill is to “give people an option that they do not currently have, thereby adding to the liberty of the subject. It means that, when people are in a relationship or contemplating a relationship or marriage, they can decide with their partner or potential partner the exact basis for the distribution of any assets or liabilities if the relationship fails.” 

“It is important to emphasise the voluntary aspect of the proposals,” he added. 

The Bill would also correct a legal anomaly with regards to the marriage contract, which is to ensure agreements between both partners are enforceable in law. Davies said the Bill would not cover co-habitees who are not married, as he is not “in favour of going down that road”; but added should legislation change in the future it would be important to have on the statute book “something like the mechanism that I am currently proposing.”

House of Commons

First reading: July 3 2007 [HC Bill 137]

Second reading: October 19 2007