Va. Code » Title 20. Domestic Relations » Chapter 8. Premarital Agreement Act
Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 20-154 (2026)

Prior agreements

✓ current as of May 2026
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All written agreements entered into prior to the enactment of this chapter between prospective spouses for the purpose affecting any of the subjects specified in § 20-150 shall be valid and enforceable if otherwise valid as contracts.

1985, c. 434; 1986, c. 201.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases, 1987–2000 · leading case: Westbrook v. Westbrook, 364 S.E.2d 523 (Va. Ct. App. 1988).
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Westbrook v. Westbrook, 364 S.E.2d 523 (Va. Ct. App. 1988). · cites it 2× “…agreements entered into prior to the effective date are valid and enforceable if otherwise valid as contracts. Code § 20-154.”
Rogers v. Yourshaw, 448 S.E.2d 884 (Va. Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 2× “Code § 20-154 provides, in pertinent part, as follows: All written agreements entered into prior to the enactment of this chapter between prospective spouses for the purpose [of] affecting any of the subjects specified in § 20-150 shall be valid and enforceable if otherwise…”
Hurt v. Hurt, 433 S.E.2d 493 (Va. Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 2× “Two days before the scheduled wedding date, the parties, after adequate disclosure of assets and each with the advice of counsel, entered into a valid premarital agreement in contemplation of their marriage.”
Carpenter v. Carpenter, 449 S.E.2d 502 (Va. Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 2× “” Code § 20-154 (emphasis added). Thus, premarital agreements executed prior to July 1, 1986, the Act’s effective date, which includes the Carpenters’ agreement, are “valid and enforceable if otherwise valid as contracts.”
Cent. Fid. Bank v. Johnson, 11 Va. Cir. 168 (Richmond County Cir. Ct. 1988). · cites it 7× “Thus, Va. Code Ann. § 20-154 (Supp. 1987) also applies to postmarital agreements and provides: "All written agreements entered into prior to the enactment of this chapter between prospective spouses for the purpose of affecting any of the subjects specified in § 20-150 shall be…”
Schmidt v. Schmidt, 9 Va. Cir. 273 (Richmond County Cir. Ct. 1987). · cites it 4× “" Va. Code § 20-154 (1987 Cum. Supp.). Esther argues that the Agreement is not a valid contract because: (1) the Agreement is unconscionable, (2) Edward’s financial statement was not a full and frank disclosure of his worth, and (3) the parties had rescinded the contract by…”
Noble v. Noble, 37 Va. Cir. 289 (Chesterfield Cir. Ct. 1995). · cites it 2× “Under Virginia Code § 20-154, written agreements between prospective spouses entered into prior to July 1,1986, are governed under contract law rather than under the Virginia Premarital Agreement Act.”
Shahla Rahnema v. Mansur Rahnema (Va. Ct. App. 2000). “Under Code § 20-155(B), applicable to this agreement through Code § 20-151 and § 20-154, "[a]ny issue of unconscionability of a premarital agreement shall be decided by the court as a matter of law.”
Mansur Rahnema v. Shala Rahnema (Va. Ct. App. 2000). “Under Code § 20-155(B), applicable to this agreement through Code § 20-151 and § 20-154, "[a]ny issue of unconscionability of a premarital agreement shall be decided by the court as a matter of law.”
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