New York prenuptial agreements, custom for you
Two ways to get a New York-specific prenup online: Self-Serve at $649, or Lawyer Review with an independent attorney for each partner at $3,500. Both are built around New York's equitable distribution rules and its deed-style acknowledgment requirement.
Not sure which fits? Book a free 20-minute consult
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Why a New York prenup is different
A First prenup is built around the laws of New York, and you, from the ground up.
Equitable distribution
New York is an equitable distribution state, so marital property is not automatically divided 50/50. If a couple divorces, the court divides marital property in a way it considers fair, based on factors such as the length of the marriage, each spouse's income and future earning potential, and each spouse's contributions to the marriage. A valid prenup allows you and your partner to establish your own rules for property and financial rights in advance, rather than leaving those decisions to a court. See our full New York prenup guide
The acknowledgment requirement
New York has a strict execution formality. Under New York Domestic Relations Law § 236(B)(3), a prenup must be signed and formally acknowledged in the same manner as a deed. Signing alone is not enough, and a missing or defective acknowledgment can make the agreement unenforceable. First builds this step into the process to help ensure the agreement meets New York's execution requirements.
Two ways to get your New York prenup
Self-Serve - $649
The most comprehensive prenup online, customized for you. Built with top family law attorneys and completed online by you and your partner in days, not months. Tailored to New York, your finances, and your situation.
Included:
- Fully enforceable, drafted on a foundation built with family law attorneys
- Customized to New York, not a generic template
- Guided questionnaire both partners complete from any device
- Full financial disclosure tools
- Covers equity, business ownership, real estate, inheritance, gifts, retirement, debts, pet custody, and more
- Online notarization included, no extra cost
- $649 flat. No retainer, no hourly bills, no surprise fees
Best if: you and your partner agree on the basics, your finances are reasonably straightforward, and $649 fits your preferred budget.
New York lets a prenup address spousal maintenance. Because New York courts review maintenance waivers closely, and a waiver that would leave a spouse a public charge is void under General Obligations Law section 5-311, independent attorney review is strongly advisable for that provision. Lawyer Review gives each partner their own attorney for exactly this.
Lawyer Review - $3,500
The gold standard of online prenups. Everything in Self-Serve, plus two independent attorneys, one for each of you, with drafting, revisions, and online notarization. Save thousands compared with hiring two lawyers traditionally, with no retainers and no hourly bills.
Included:
- Two independent attorneys: you pick yours, your partner picks theirs, from First's vetted New York-licensed network
- Consultations and revisions included at the flat fee
- The ability to edit the underlying language with your attorney
- Spousal maintenance provisions, which New York courts scrutinize closely and which are safest drafted with independent review
- Reserved attorney availability, so you can start today
- Online notarization included, no extra cost
- $3,500 flat. Rush service available for $750
Best if: either of you owns a business or has complex assets, either of you has been married before or has children from a prior relationship, you want each partner to have their own attorney, or you are in New York and want to address spousal maintenance with attorney review.
Certain situations call for Bespoke: fully custom drafting for the most complex situations, dedicated senior counsel, and tailored process for the most sensitive or complicated agreements.
First vs hiring two New York attorneys on your own
Key considerations
A New York prenup with two independent attorneys is $3,500 total through First, with one attorney for each partner, consultations, revisions, and online notarization included. Hiring two firms separately in New York, where the average lawyer bills $426 an hour and New York City family law rates run $300 to $600, commonly runs $5,000 to $10,000 for the couple.
Hired separately, that work is billed hourly across two firms, so the final number is hard to predict before you start, and complex finances in the city regularly pass $15,000. First is one flat price, with no retainers and no hourly bills, and each of you gets your own independent attorney.
The hourly figures also price only the legal work. Hiring on your own means building a shortlist of local firms, calling each one, booking consults, and confirming both fee and availability against your wedding date, then running all of it again because your partner needs a different attorney. First's network is made up of local New York-licensed family law attorneys who hold availability for First couples, so you each pick yours and start.
| Hourly rate | Typical total for the couple | |
|---|---|---|
| New York average, all practice areas | $426 | – |
| New York City family law attorneys | $300 to $600 | – |
| Two New York City attorneys hired separately | – | $5,000 to $10,000+ |
| Complex finances in New York City | – | $15,000+ |
| First Lawyer Review | Flat fee | $3,500, both attorneys included |
| First Self-Serve | Flat fee | $649 |
Under $1,000 for the couple
Self-Serve $649
A New York-specific agreement you and your partner complete online together, built around the state's acknowledgment requirement.
Under $5,000 for the couple
Lawyer Review $3,500
An independent New York-licensed attorney for each partner, with consultations and revisions included at the flat fee.
Complex finances
Bespoke
Dedicated senior counsel and fully custom drafting, for business ownership or the most sensitive agreements.
Rates from the Clio 2025 Legal Trends Report and figures published in our New York prenup guide. Reviewed for New York in August 2026.
How it works
From start to signed in days, not months
1
Sign up and invite your partner
Create your account, add your partner's email, and you are both in the platform.
2
Complete the guided questionnaire
Walk through assets, debts, real estate, and retirement at your own pace. Save and resume anytime.
3
Review your custom agreement
Your prenup is generated from your answers and built for New York, not pulled from a generic template.
4
Sign and acknowledge before a notary
Both partners sign and complete the notarial acknowledgment New York requires, online where remote online notarization is permitted.
Real couples, real successes with First®
The #1 customer-rated prenup platform.
These testimonials are real customer quotes collected by First. No compensation was provided in exchange for these quotes.
First Self-Serve vs First Lawyer Review
Trusted by modern couples & top family law attorneys.
| First® Self-Serve | First® Lawyer Review | |
|---|---|---|
| Process & Service | ||
| Guided questionnaire | | |
| Full financial disclosure | | |
| Ability to edit document | – | |
| Alimony or Child Support Obligations | ||
| Alimony waiver or augmentation | | |
| Existing child support or alimony obligations | | |
| Types of Property | ||
| Inheritance | | |
| Equity interests, including stock, options, RSUs, and carried interest | | |
| Business ownership | | |
| Real estate | | |
| Gifts | | |
| Retirement Accounts | | |
| Postmarital property ownership | | |
| Transmuting existing assets and debts | – | |
| Financial Management | ||
| Household finances | | |
| Reimbursements | | |
| Taxes | | |
| Special Circumstances & Advanced Provisions | ||
| Pet custody | | |
| Reproductive material | | |
| Moving to another state | | |
| Counseling or mediation commitments | | |
| Immigration support | – | |
| Legal Support & Review | ||
| Free online notarization | | |
| Lawyer review | – | |
New York prenup questions, answered
Is a prenup enforceable in New York without a lawyer?
Yes. New York does not require either partner to have an attorney. A prenup is enforceable when it is in writing, signed by both partners, and acknowledged before a notary in the same form used to record a deed, with full financial disclosure and voluntary signing. Independent counsel is not required, but New York courts look more favorably on agreements where each partner had the chance to consult their own attorney, so it is strongly advisable, especially when there is a large gap in assets or sophistication between partners.
How much does a New York prenup cost?
With First, a New York prenup is a flat fee: $649 for Self-Serve, or $3,500 for Lawyer Review, which includes an independent attorney for each partner. Traditional attorney-drafted prenups in New York commonly run $5,000 to $10,000 per couple, with New York City family law rates typically between $300 and $600 per hour.
Do I need to find a local New York prenup lawyer, or can I use First?
You still get a local attorney with First. Lawyer Review at $3,500 includes an independent New York-licensed family law attorney for each of you, drawn from a vetted local network that holds availability for First couples, so you get an attorney on each side without building a shortlist of local firms and calling each one. Hiring two local attorneys separately in New York commonly runs $5,000 to $10,000 for the couple, billed hourly across two firms. Self-Serve at $649 is the option without attorneys.
Does a New York prenup have to be notarized?
Yes. Under Domestic Relations Law section 236(B)(3), a New York prenup must be acknowledged in the same manner required for a deed to be recorded. Each partner signs in front of a notary and formally declares that the signature was made freely, and the notary completes an acknowledgment certificate. A standard signature without that acknowledgment language can make the agreement unenforceable.
Can I do a New York prenup online and have it hold up?
Yes. Completing a prenup online does not affect whether it holds up. Enforceability depends on the agreement being in writing, properly acknowledged before a notary, supported by full financial disclosure, and signed voluntarily. First is built around each of these.
What is the difference between Self-Serve and Lawyer Review in New York?
Self-Serve at $649 is a guided, fully online prenup customized to New York, best when your finances are straightforward and you are comfortable deciding together. Lawyer Review at $3,500 adds an independent attorney for each partner and the ability to edit the underlying language, which is worth it for complex assets or for a spousal maintenance waiver, where New York courts expect careful, specific drafting.
How long does a New York prenup take with First?
Most couples complete Self-Serve in days, not months. Lawyer Review usually takes days to a few weeks, depending on complexity and how quickly both partners and attorneys review. New York has no statutory waiting period, but courts examine last-minute signings for signs of pressure, so aim to finish several weeks before the wedding.
Start your New York prenup
A New York-specific prenup, built online and made to hold up. Self-Serve at $649, or Lawyer Review with an independent attorney for each partner at $3,500. Notarial acknowledgment included.
Not sure which fits? Book a free 20-minute consult