A postnup in Canada can start at $49 CAD for a guided online draft. If a lawyer prepares the agreement, current advertised examples begin around $1,698 to $3,000 plus tax for the drafting spouse, and the other spouse normally pays for separate legal advice. A negotiated or financially complex agreement can cost several thousand dollars more.
The useful question is not only “What does a postnup cost?” It is “What is included, who is represented, and what work remains before signing?”
This guide compares current Canadian options, shows why prices vary, and helps married couples ask for a quote they can actually compare. Prices were checked on August 7, 2026. They are examples, not market averages or legal-fee quotes.
Quick answer: postnup cost in Canada
| Route | Published starting point or example | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Guided online draft | Prenuply is $49 CAD | Three document generations, PDF and Word files, no subscription. Independent legal review is separate. |
| Lawyer-drafted postnup | Current advertised examples range from $1,698 plus HST in Ontario to $3,000 plus GST in Alberta | Whether disclosure schedules, negotiations, revisions, signing, and a legal-advice certificate are included. |
| Review and independent legal advice | One Ontario firm advertises $599 plus HST for review and ILA | Page limits, revision work, negotiations, signing, and whether the lawyer will issue a certificate. |
| Complex or heavily negotiated agreement | One Alberta firm estimates $10,000 to $20,000 or more in total for files involving businesses, farms, trusts, or substantial investments | Valuations, tax advice, estate planning, corporate work, and the number of negotiation rounds. |
These figures cannot be added mechanically. A full-service drafting fee usually covers one spouse’s lawyer, not two lawyers acting jointly. Taxes and disbursements may be extra. A quote that looks higher may include work that a lower price excludes.
If you are still deciding whether an after-marriage agreement is the right document, start with our guide to getting a prenup after marriage in Canada.
What are you paying for?
A postnuptial agreement, often called a postnup or marriage contract, is made after the wedding. The spouses already have legal rights and a real financial history. The professional work may include:
- identifying the law that applies in the couple’s province
- reviewing an existing prenup, cohabitation agreement, will, or shareholder agreement
- collecting and checking financial disclosure
- drafting property, debt, home, support, business, pension, and estate-related terms
- negotiating changes with the other spouse and their lawyer
- arranging valuations or tax advice
- explaining the rights each spouse is changing
- completing provincial signing, witnessing, acknowledgement, or notarial requirements
A $49 online product and a $3,000 legal retainer are not identical services. The online route can organize the couple’s facts and create a personalized first draft. A lawyer can advise one spouse, test the draft against provincial law, negotiate changes, and supervise signing. Many couples use both stages.
Four practical cost routes
1. A guided online postnup draft
Prenuply’s Canadian postnup template costs $49 CAD and includes three document generations, PDF and Word downloads, no subscription, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
This route is designed for married couples who remain together and want an organized draft for independent legal review. It is not for spouses who are already separating or negotiating a divorce. It also does not replace the separate-lawyer process required for covered Alberta property agreements or the Quebec notarial process.
The main cost advantage is preparation. A structured questionnaire can help couples identify their property, debts, goals, and missing information before lawyer time begins.
2. A lawyer prepares the first draft
Published Canadian prices show how much scope matters:
- Prenup.ca advertises $1,698 plus HST for an Ontario full-service drafting package and $599 plus HST for review and independent legal advice.
- Solvine Law advertises a $2,300 plus HST flat fee for an Ontario prenuptial or postnuptial agreement.
- Mint Legal advertises $3,000 plus GST for a Calgary postnuptial agreement.
Those examples are useful benchmarks, not a Canadian price list. Read the inclusions carefully. Ask whether the fee covers only the first draft or also revisions, lawyer-to-lawyer correspondence, financial schedules, signing, certificates, and post-signing administration.
3. One lawyer drafts and the other spouse gets ILA
This is a common structure. The drafting lawyer represents one spouse. The other spouse takes the same draft and disclosure package to a different lawyer for independent legal advice, often shortened to ILA.
The reviewing lawyer may do more than explain the document. They may identify a missing asset, recommend changes, request a valuation, or negotiate a clause. A low review-only quote can increase if the file becomes a negotiation.
Read our guide to independent legal advice for Canadian agreements before comparing ILA packages.
4. A complex or negotiated postnup
Businesses, professional corporations, farms, trusts, foreign property, stock compensation, pensions, and family gifts can add specialist work. A support waiver or a formula for a jointly owned home can also require scenario testing.
Olex Legal’s 2026 Alberta guide estimates a total of $4,000 to $8,000 for a straightforward postnup with two lawyers and $10,000 to $20,000 or more for complex files. Treat those numbers as one firm’s Alberta estimate, not a national average.
Why a postnup can cost more than a prenup
A postnup is not automatically more expensive. It can take more work when:
- years of account statements, property growth, and debt changes must be reconstructed
- a business or home has appreciated during the marriage
- the spouses disagree about what was promised earlier
- one spouse has already made a career or caregiving sacrifice
- an existing agreement must be amended or replaced
- the couple needs coordinated tax, estate, corporate, pension, or real-estate advice
The wedding deadline is gone, which can reduce timing pressure. However, rights may already have accrued. That makes accurate dates, values, and relationship history especially important.
Province rules that affect the budget
Canada has no single national postnup statute. The formality and professional steps depend on the province.
| Province | Cost-related point to plan for |
|---|---|
| Ontario | Section 52 of the Family Law Act permits married spouses to make a marriage contract. It must be written, signed, and witnessed. Ontario also advises spouses to exchange financial information and speak to different lawyers. |
| British Columbia | Property and debt agreements must be written and witnessed for section 93 to apply. Non-disclosure, vulnerability, lack of understanding, and significant unfairness can become important, so disclosure and separate advice are valuable safeguards. |
| Alberta | Sections 37 and 38 of the Family Property Act require specific written acknowledgements before different lawyers for covered agreements that contract out of statutory property rights. Budget for two lawyers. |
| Quebec | A marriage contract can be made after the wedding, but it must be signed before a notary. The online draft is preparation, not the final notarial act. |
The primary rules are in the Ontario Family Law Act, the British Columbia Family Law Act, the Alberta Family Property Act, and the Government of Quebec marriage-contract guidance.
Six ways to control the total cost
1. Define the problem first
“We want a postnup” is broad. “We want to document a parent’s home contribution and decide how appreciation is shared” gives the professionals a usable scope.
2. Complete disclosure before drafting
Gather account statements, tax returns, notices of assessment, mortgage and debt records, property documents, pension statements, corporate records, and existing agreements. Our financial disclosure checklist gives couples a practical starting point.
3. Agree on principles before paying for clause-by-clause negotiation
Discuss what stays separate, what is shared, how the home is handled, which debts belong to whom, and what happens after caregiving or a major income change. Do not negotiate through lawyers if the spouses have not discussed the basic goal.
4. Ask for a written scope, not only a headline price
Confirm the number of revisions, whether negotiations are included, what ends the flat fee, and the hourly rate if the file moves outside scope. Ask about tax, disbursements, rush fees, valuation work, and signing.
5. Do not use one lawyer for both spouses
One lawyer cannot give independent advice to both people about rights they hold against one another. Skipping separate review may save money today but remove an important safeguard.
6. Bring in specialists only where the facts require them
A business valuation, tax opinion, pension calculation, appraisal, or estate plan can be necessary. Ask the family lawyers to identify the exact question each specialist must answer before commissioning broad work.
Questions to ask before hiring a postnup lawyer
- Do you regularly prepare postnuptial agreements in my province?
- Does this quote cover drafting, disclosure schedules, revisions, negotiation, signing, and an ILA certificate?
- Is the other spouse’s independent lawyer included? Usually, the answer is no.
- What would move the file from flat fee to hourly billing?
- Do our home, business, pension, trust, or foreign assets need a valuation or specialist opinion?
- What taxes, disbursements, or rush fees are extra?
- If we already have a prenup or cohabitation agreement, is reviewing it included?
- What documents should we organize before the first meeting?
FAQ
Is $49 the total cost of a postnup with Prenuply?
$49 CAD covers the Prenuply guided template, three generations, and PDF and Word files. Lawyers, a Quebec notary, valuations, tax advice, registrations, and other professional services cost extra.
Do both spouses need separate lawyers?
Separate advice is a strong safeguard across Canada. Alberta has specific different-lawyer acknowledgement requirements for covered family-property agreements. Ontario’s government also advises spouses to speak with different lawyers before signing a marriage contract.
Who normally pays the postnup legal fees?
Couples can decide who pays. Each lawyer still represents only their own client, even if one spouse funds both legal bills. Ask the lawyers how payment should be documented.
Does a postnup cost more if we own a home?
It can. Title, starting equity, mortgage payments, renovations, appreciation, buyout terms, and provincial family-home rules may need careful drafting. See our guide to protecting a house with a Canadian agreement.
Can a postnup cover spousal support?
Often, but support clauses can attract close legal review. A waiver or formula should be tested against income differences, caregiving, disability, and the province’s court powers. Read our spousal support guide.
Can we use a postnup if we are already separating?
Prenuply’s postnup workflow is for married couples who remain together. Spouses who are separating or negotiating divorce should ask about a separation agreement and obtain legal advice.
Bottom line
The lowest postnup cost is not always the lowest responsible total. Compare the complete path: first draft, disclosure, two independent reviews, revisions, signing, and any specialist work.
For a straightforward starting point, create a personalized Canadian postnup draft with Prenuply for $49 CAD. Then take the complete draft and disclosure package to separate qualified professionals before signing.
Sources checked
This article was researched and checked on August 7, 2026 using the Ontario Family Law Act, British Columbia Family Law Act, Alberta Family Property Act, Government of Quebec marriage-contract guidance, Prenup.ca’s advertised Ontario postnup fees, Solvine Law’s advertised Ontario domestic-contract fee, Mint Legal’s advertised Calgary postnup fee, Olex Legal’s Alberta cost estimates, and Prenuply’s live pricing.
Prenuply AI Inc. is not a law firm and does not provide legal services or legal advice. Prenuply provides technology tools and general legal information to help users prepare agreement drafts for review with qualified legal professionals.