What in the World - Why are more couples signing prenups before marriage?

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For better for worse, for richer for poorer…but first, can we sign a prenup?

You might have heard about them in relation to celebrity divorce scandals, or even in songs, but recent data suggests prenups aren’t just for the rich and famous anymore. A prenup is a legal arrangement made by a couple before they marry or enter into a civil partnership, which sets out plans for how their wealth will be divided if they divorce. Polls in the US, Canada and the UK show that over half of Gen Z would consider signing one and there’s even a growing number of apps to help you draw up the contract.

So — why are prenups on the rise? And what does it say about modern marriage?

BBC journalist Chelsea Coates breaks down the data behind this - and talks us through the reasons why more of Gen Z are considering signing one. Basma El Atti, a BBC reporter based in Nairobi, explains how marriage differs across the African continent and how conversations around finance before getting married are changing.

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Presenter: Iqra Farooq
Producers: Chelsea Coates and Benita Barden
Video producer: Baldeep Chahal
Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Published on Tuesday, 21st April 2026.

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