SIGNING a prenuptial agreement has conventionally been deemed an act that would undermine a couple’s affections for each other, but it is becoming a trendy way to protect one’s property before marriage among Shenzhen residents, especially the younger generation, the Shenzhen Economic Daily reported.

Yao Yicun, an official with the Shenzhen Notary Office, said that more young people in Shenzhen had inquired about prenuptial agreement service over the past few years at a public day held by the office over the weekend.

Yao said that the increasing interest in the service among young people showed that the younger generation has a stronger sense of protecting their personal property.

Under the influence of traditional mindsets, many hold the opinion that getting a prenuptial agreement before marriage may cast a shadow on the marriage.

The perception is gradually changing as a growing number of prenuptial agreement services is being required at notary offices, said Yao.

A woman in her early 20s came to the public day event Saturday to inquire about the prenuptial agreement service. The woman said she had paid the down payment on an apartment and wondered if she needed to conduct a notary service on her properties before marriage in order to preserve her rights.

The woman said she was concerned about her property rights and wished to confirm her properties by legal means.

A notary officer said at the public day event that there had been an increasing number of cases of applicants submitting forged materials, especially fake marriage certificates, birth certificates and household registration booklets.

The officer also revealed Saturday that they had recently uncovered a man who was using the identity of his brother’s wife to apply for notary services. Both the man and his brother’s wife were put under detention by police.

A total of 38 documents were found to be forged or belonging to someone other than the applicants in 2016, and the number so far this year is 24.

The notary service of intellectual property is another item that has been growing on the business front in recent years as more people are starting their own businesses with their unique ideas and inventions. In 2016, the municipal office provided notary services for 4,839 intellectual properties.

Shenzhen set up the first notary service of intellectual property in Guangdong Pro-vince earlier this year, aiming to provide efficient legal notary service. (Zhang Qian)