Keep what’s yours.
Build what’s ours.

The opposite, honestly. An agreement is the two of you making these decisions together, on a good day, in plain language — instead of leaving them to a judge on a bad one. Most couples tell us the conversation itself was worth it. And if parents are helping with a down payment, it's often simply a condition of the gift.

Under BC's Family Law Act, after you've lived together in a marriage-like relationship for two years, you're "spouses" — with the same property-division and spousal-support framework as a married couple. If you have a child together, spousal support rights can arise even sooner. Most couples have no idea until it matters. Read our plain-English guide to the two-year rule →

Mostly the name. In BC all three are made under the same part of the Family Law Act and do the same job: the two of you decide how property and support work, instead of leaving it to the default rules. Which word applies just depends on your situation — a cohabitation agreement if you're living together, a marriage agreement (what most people call a prenup) if you're marrying or already married. "Prenup" is an American term that stuck. And one well-drafted agreement carries you from moving in through the wedding and beyond, so you don't need a new document when you get engaged. See the four names side by side →

Not at all. Couples sign cohabitation agreements at any point — many after they realize the two-year mark has already passed. The sooner it's signed, the cleaner the record of what each of you brought in, so earlier is better.

Because your interests aren't identical, a lawyer can only represent one of you — that's a professional rule, and it's also what makes the agreement solid. We act for one partner; the other gets independent legal advice from their own lawyer. If they'd like a hand finding one, we can point them to our network of affordable BC lawyers who do this regularly — or your partner is welcome to choose any BC family lawyer they prefer.

Each of you lists what you own, owe and earn — then both lists go into the agreement itself as schedules, so each of you signs having seen the other's full picture. Yes, you really have to: hidden or sloppy disclosure is the #1 reason agreements get set aside later. We give you a simple list to fill in; it's easier than it sounds.

A badly made one, yes — for missing disclosure, no independent advice, or pressure around the signing. That's why our process bakes in full financial disclosure, independent legal advice for both of you, and a properly witnessed signing supervised live on video. The process is the protection.

Typically three to four weeks from the fit call to signatures. If there's a wedding or a completion date coming, tell us early and we'll work backwards from it.

No — not even to sign. The fit call, questionnaire, disclosure, advice meeting and the signing itself all happen online, from anywhere in BC. The signing is done live on a supervised video call, properly witnessed, so nothing is lost by doing it remotely.

$1,499 for the agreement (one partner's lawyer — us) — every agreement, business owners and blended families included — plus the other partner's independent advice, paid to their own lawyer — typically around $500–$700 through the affordable BC lawyers in our network, or whatever their own chosen lawyer charges. Prices plus taxes. That's the whole number; there's nothing else. Full cost breakdown →