Postnup Boom: How Cheaters Are Increasingly Locking Down Assets Before Getting Caught

* 41% of people having affairs say they’d consider signing a postnuptial agreement to protect themselves if their infidelity is discovered.
* 22% have already consulted a solicitor since beginning their affair — citing fear of divorce fallout, revenge, or loss of children’s inheritance.
* High-earning professionals like lawyers, surgeons, and tech entrepreneurs are leading the surge in postnups as strategic pre-divorce safeguards.
* Study conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site.

A growing number of unfaithful Brits are quietly protecting their wealth in case their secrets come to light. 

According to a new poll of 2,500 married members by IllicitEncounters, the UK’s leading married dating site, 41% say they would consider signing a postnuptial agreement – not as a romantic gesture, but as a financial safeguard in case their affair is discovered.

Of those considering it, 22% revealed they’ve already consulted a solicitor since starting their affair, exploring how to ringfence their assets and avoid a costly divorce. 

The motivations behind the postnup boom are striking. The majority of those surveyed – 67% – say they want to protect their wealth from being divided up in court. Another 44% say their primary concern is securing their children’s inheritance, while 31% admit they’re bracing for revenge – expecting their spouse to retaliate financially if the affair comes to light.

Certain professions are leading the charge. Lawyers were the most likely to be exploring postnups, making up 19% of those considering the move. They were followed by consultants (16%), surgeons (14%), and tech entrepreneurs (12%) – all high-pressure, high-income roles where reputation and financial stability are often tightly intertwined.

Jessica Leoni, sex and relationships expert at IllicitEncounters, says the data points to a major shift in how modern affairs are playing out. “This isn’t just a legal trend – it’s a warning sign,” she said. “Affairs are no longer just emotional or sexual gambles. They’re strategic risks – and people are planning for the consequences before they even get caught. 

Postnups used to be rare, even taboo. But now they’re part of the cheater’s toolkit. Love may be unpredictable, but divorce can be expensive – and for many, protecting their wealth comes before protecting their marriage.”

One anonymous member put it bluntly: “If I get caught, I’ll lose my house and half my business. A postnup won’t protect my relationship – but it might just protect everything else.”

As extramarital relationships become more common among ambitious professionals, the rise in postnuptial agreements suggests that even betrayal now comes with a back-up plan.