How can parents help protect gifts or inheritance if children divorce?

[Springiscoming368]

We have quite a few friends getting divorced / separating. Must be the age we are at. But some of these people have been married over 10 years so by UK law most things are being split 50/50.

Even if someone had inherited 150k and brought a house outright the partner has a claim of upto 50% of it. If parents have gifted them 100k for a house, again it can forced to spilt 50/50.

It’s made me think how can I better protect my children in the future. I’ve heard prenups don’t always stand up in the UK. If I gifted my children money how do I protect that so it stays with them? I’m hoping they never get divorced but there seems to be a high rate within our friendship groups at the moment.

This is one thing that is never discussed when considering whether to help children with uni fees. If you use your money so that they don’t end up with a loan then that is something that can never be taken away in a divorce.

@Springiscoming368
A Declaration of Trust can be drawn up when they buy the property to records who contributed what, how ownership is split and how proceeds are divided if the home is sold.
People doing this typically hold the property as tenants in common rather than joint tenants.

The courts can over-ride it in a divorce. But it depends on the circumstances, e.g. if a couple have been married a long time and /or have children. This seems fair enough to me, especially if children are involved.