DIY Prenup
Also known as: Free Prenup Template, Do-It-Yourself Prenup
A prenup created by the parties themselves using a free template, without attorney involvement. High failure rate in court.
A DIY prenup is typically a template downloaded from a generic legal-form site and completed by the parties. Courts strike down DIY prenups not because the template language is wrong — most generic templates have reasonable language — but because the procedural execution around the document is what decides enforceability.
DIY templates can't produce sworn financial disclosure schedules, document voluntariness, or handle state-specific signing rules. We do not recommend DIY prenups for any real-world use case.
Related terms
- Online Prenup — An attorney-reviewed prenuptial agreement created through an online platform (LegalZoom, HelloPrenup) — typically $599-$749. Distinct from a DIY template.
- Financial Disclosure — The requirement that each spouse provides a complete and specific accounting of their finances — assets, debts, and income — before signing a prenup.
- Procedural Defects — Failures to comply with formal signing requirements — notarization, witnesses, acknowledgment, written-only rules. State-specific and often fatal.
Back to the full glossary or browse state-by-state cost guides.