It depends on your state. Most states do not require either partner to hire a lawyer for a prenup to be valid, though courts often weigh whether each partner had independent legal counsel when deciding whether to enforce it. Some states have specific rules; in California, for example, you generally need independent counsel to waive spousal support. First's Lawyer Review and Bespoke packages include an independent attorney for each partner, and Self-Serve is a guided option for couples who do not need full representation. See our full state-by-state guide for details where you live.

A prenup drafted through traditional attorneys generally runs from about $3,000 to $10,000 or more per couple, and lawyers often bill by the hour, which makes the final cost hard to predict. Because each partner needs their own attorney, that expense applies twice. First's Lawyer Review is $3,500 flat and includes an independent attorney for each partner, with online notarization. Self-Serve is $649. All First packages include notarization.

In most states, yes. A prenup generally must be in writing, signed voluntarily before marriage, and supported by full financial disclosure, with many states not requiring an attorney. First's Self-Serve package at $649 is a guided way to create a state-specific prenup without full attorney representation. If you want attorney involvement, the Lawyer Review and Bespoke packages add an independent attorney for each partner.

If you use attorneys, each partner needs their own. One lawyer cannot represent both people in the same prenup because their interests can differ, and courts scrutinize agreements where a couple shared counsel. That is why the traditional route means finding and paying for two separate attorneys. First's Lawyer Review and Bespoke packages include an independent attorney for each partner in one flat fee.

It can be, and depends on which option you choose and how it's executed. A prenup's enforceability is not determined by whether a traditional lawyer drafted it or not. A prenup works when it meets your state's requirements: in writing, entered voluntarily, backed by full financial disclosure, and free of unconscionable terms.

First's Lawyer Review and Bespoke packages include an independent attorney for each partner, so you get attorney involvement without hiring two firms yourself, and every agreement is drafted for your situation and your state's law rather than filled in from a fixed template. Self-Serve is a guided do-it-yourself option for couples who do not need full representation. Both are better options than a DIY template while costing thousands less than two traditional lawyers.

The traditional route usually takes several weeks to a few months, since it involves finding lawyers and scheduling consultations, waiting on drafts, and coordinating between two attorneys throughout the process. Most couples complete a First prenup in days, depending on how quickly both partners finish the guided questionnaire and review the agreement.