When comparing Antenuptial Contract services, you may notice significant differences between quotations. A higher or lower price does not necessarily tell you everything about the quality or scope of the service.
The important question is not simply "How much does an ANC cost?" but "What is included in the price I am being quoted?"
A quotation may include professional fees, notarial execution, registration-related costs and other disbursements. Additional work may also be required depending on the couple's circumstances.
What Does an ANC Fee Usually Cover?
The exact structure of an ANC quotation differs between providers, but the following categories are commonly relevant:
- Consultation and Legal Advice: Professional time spent understanding the couple's circumstances, discussing matrimonial property regimes and addressing questions relevant to the ANC. Consultation may be included in some packages and charged separately in others.
- Drafting: Preparation of the ANC according to the couple's instructions and the selected matrimonial property regime. More complex circumstances can require more drafting time and legal consideration.
- Notarial Execution: The formal execution of the ANC before the Notary Public in accordance with the applicable legal requirements.
- Deeds Registry / Disbursements: Costs associated with the registration process may include prescribed government fees and other necessary disbursements.
Why Can ANC Prices Differ?
A simple matter with straightforward instructions may require less professional time than a matter involving businesses, international interests, complex assets or unusual execution arrangements. Pricing across the market is generally influenced by:
- Whether consultation time is included or billed hourly
- Complexity of the couple's assets and financial structure
- Standard versus customised or bespoke drafting
- Business ownership, company shares, or partnership interests
- Significant property holdings and investment portfolios
- Existing debts, guarantees, or financial liabilities
- Cross-border or international assets and residence
- Customary marriage considerations and timing
- Special execution arrangements or remote signing
- Special Power of Attorney drafting and processing where required
- Number of drafting revisions requested
- Urgent or last-minute instructions
- Travel requirements for execution appointments
- Deeds Registry statutory fees and lodgment disbursements
- Courier and final document-delivery logistics
Standard Does Not Mean Inadequate — Custom Does Not Automatically Mean Better
Different couples have different circumstances. Some may require a relatively straightforward ANC, while others may need provisions dealing with particular assets, business interests or other considerations.
The important question is whether the contract properly reflects the instructions given to the Notary and the matrimonial property regime selected.
What Is the Consultation Paying For?
A consultation is an opportunity for the couple to discuss their circumstances and objectives with the legal professional. Typical consultation topics include:
- Comparing the different matrimonial property regimes
- Treatment of existing assets and pre-marital savings
- Handling business interests, shareholdings, and commercial risk
- Managing debts, loans, and personal suretyships
- Future financial plans and wealth accumulation
- Customary marriage considerations and Lobola timelines
- Prior marriages, maintenance obligations, and blended families
- Coordination with Last Wills and estate-planning arrangements
- Clarifying specific terms and clauses within the draft ANC
Not every couple will require the same level of consultation. The appropriate service depends on the circumstances.
What If the Wedding Is Only a Few Days Away?
It may still be possible to arrange an ANC very close to the intended marriage date, provided the legal requirements can be met and the necessary professional and signing arrangements can be completed in time.
However, urgent instructions can require additional administrative coordination, accelerated drafting, consultation and execution arrangements. For this reason, an urgent or last-minute instruction may attract an additional urgency fee.
Availability cannot be guaranteed, particularly where the Notary, clients or other required parties are unavailable. B4.iDO encourages couples to start the process well in advance. As a practical planning guide, starting at least two months before the intended marriage date gives more room to deal with documents, consultations, drafting, revisions and signing arrangements.
Costs That May Be Separate
Depending on the service provider and the specific requirements of your file, additional charges may apply in certain situations, including:
- Urgency fees for accelerated turnaround times
- Additional or extended consultations beyond the initial scope
- Extensive amendments or substantial re-drafting after review
- Complex, bespoke clauses for commercial or trust assets
- Special Power of Attorney drafting and execution coordination
- Additional signing appointments or out-of-office travel
- International execution and cross-border document authentication
- Specialised courier services for physical document delivery
- Additional certified copies of the registered contract
- Deeds Registry re-lodgment fees where queries arise
What Should You Look for in an ANC Quotation?
A good quotation should make it reasonably clear what you are paying for and which costs may arise if your circumstances require additional work. When reviewing a quote, check the following:
- □ Professional drafting fee clearly stated
- □ Consultation included or excluded (and applicable hourly rates)
- □ Formal Notarial execution included
- □ Deeds Registry registration and lodgment disbursements included
- □ Government statutory fees clearly identified
- □ Number of drafting revisions allowed before extra charges apply
- □ Urgency policies and potential last-minute fees explained
- □ Special signing or remote execution arrangements explained
- □ Courier and final document delivery costs outlined
- □ Any excluded services or third-party costs clearly noted
Don't Compare Only the Number
A quotation of R X and another quotation of R Y cannot necessarily be compared simply by looking at the final number. One provider may include consultation, registration-related disbursements and delivery, while another may charge some of these separately. When comparing prices, compare the scope of service as well as the amount.
⚠️ Be Clear About What You Are Buying
Online templates and automated documents can appear inexpensive, but the price alone does not tell you whether the document has been properly prepared for your circumstances or whether the required notarial execution and registration steps have been completed.
An ANC must comply with the applicable legal and notarial requirements. A document template by itself does not replace proper legal and notarial execution.
Why Understanding the Regime Matters More Than the Price
The most important part of an ANC is not simply the amount paid to have the document prepared. It is understanding the matrimonial property regime you are choosing and ensuring that the ANC properly reflects the couple's instructions.
A low-cost contract that does not address an important issue may not meet the couple's objectives. Equally, a more expensive service is not automatically better simply because it costs more.
💎 Transparent Fees
At B4.iDO, we believe clients should understand what they are paying for before work begins. Our packages set out the services included in each option, while circumstances requiring additional work may be explained separately. We aim to make additional costs clear before they are incurred wherever reasonably possible.
Learn More About the Process and Regimes
- What Is an Antenuptial Contract? — Understand the foundational legal requirements.
- Understand the ANC Process — Step-by-step walkthrough from drafting to Deeds Registry.
Understand Before You Say "I Do"
At B4.iDO, we are not saying that every couple should get an Antenuptial Contract. We believe couples should understand the matrimonial property regime that will govern their marriage, consider the implications and make an informed decision before they say 'I do'.
Price matters. But understanding what you are paying for matters too.
Ready to Explore Your Options?
Explore the B4.iDO ANC process, compare our service options and understand what is included before you decide.
This page provides general educational information about ANC-related costs and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Fees and disbursements vary between providers and may depend on the circumstances of the matter.