Date: 1 November 2011

Shane Warne has stated that there will be no pre-nuptial agreement in place when he marries Liz Hurley. The former Australian cricketer proposed to the British model and actress recently but is reported as saying the pair are not going to draft the legal document. When asked whether the couple would be signing a pre-nuptial agreement, Warne said: "I don't think we'll worry about that stuff." Warne added that there is no rush for the couple to be married and at the moment they are simply enjoying being engaged.

If the pair do choose to go ahead with the wedding without putting a pre-nuptial agreement in place, they will be following in the footsteps of Sir Paul McCartney. The former Beatle recently tied the knot with heiress Nancy Shevell and as with his previous wedding to Heather Mills, did not ask her to sign a legal document ahead of the celebrations.

Sue Bailey, a family solicitor in Ashton KCJ’s Norwich office, says: “As a result of recent case law, in certain circumstances, pre-nuptial agreements are now likely to carry significant weight at the end of a marriage. Whilst Shane Warne and Sir Paul McCartney provide two examples of the super-rich deciding not to take any steps to prevent against a potential financial fall-out on a divorce, pre-nuptial agreements are relevant for more than just the extremely wealth amongst us. For couples embarking on second marriages where they might have children from a first marriage to consider, or couples where one brings to the marriage generations of inherited wealth - for example in the form of a farm - pre-nuptial agreements can provide effective and certain protection for couples."

If you need individual advice about pre-nuptial agreements, please contact the Ashton KCJ family team.