Planning for Parenthood: How Prenups Help Couples Prepare for Fertility and Family Planning Costs
Fertility is emotional. It’s also expensive. More couples are choosing to plan for it with legal clarity.Whether it’s IVF, egg freezing, or adoption, building a family today requires alignment on timelines, finances, and personal boundaries. These are not questions you want to answer during a medical procedure or in the middle of a disagreement. Neptune Insight: In 2024, 14% of prenups created through Neptune included fertility or family planning clauses.That’s why prenups are emerging as a smart, structured way for couples to plan ahead. And that’s exactly where Neptune can help.Here’s how these clauses are helping couples stay prepared and aligned.
Key takeaways
- You can address fertility costs upfront in a prenup, including IVF cycles that cost up to $30,000 each, egg freezing ranging $10,000-$20,000, and adoption expenses of $20,000-$50,000
- Your prenup can specify how to handle embryos, sperm, or eggs if you separate, giving both partners clarity on reproductive autonomy and decision-making rights
- You can establish clear funding arrangements for fertility treatments like IVF, egg freezing, or surrogacy to prevent financial tension during your marriage
- Including fertility clauses helps you avoid last-minute confusion during time-sensitive fertility decisions and sets expectations before emotions run high
- A prenup allows you to discuss major family-building decisions together before you need to act on them, creating space for both partners' perspectives on parenthood
Why Fertility Clauses Are Gaining Ground
The average IVF cycle costs up to $30,000. Most people need more than one.
Egg freezing ranges between $10,000 and $20,000, plus yearly storage fees. Adoption can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000, depending on the type.
These aren’t just financial numbers. They represent real decisions that affect timelines, emotions, and relationships. A prenup lets couples align on those decisions early by addressing:
- How to split the costs of IVF, egg retrieval, or storage
- Who has the rights to embryos or genetic material if the relationship ends
- Shared views on adoption or surrogacy in the future
- Budget expectations for long-term family-building efforts
What Prenups Can Cover
A thoughtfully written prenup can include clear language around:
- Funding fertility treatments such as IVF, egg freezing, or surrogacy
- What happens to embryos, sperm, or eggs in case of separation
- Each partner’s preferences about becoming a parent in the future
- Division of family-building costs during the marriage
Why This Matters
1. You avoid ambiguity
Fertility choices are sensitive and time-bound. A prenup helps prevent last-minute confusion or legal uncertainty.
2. You set financial expectations upfront
Fertility care involves large, often recurring expenses. Clarity now keeps finances from becoming a future source of tension.
3. You respect personal boundaries
One partner might want reproductive autonomy after separation. The other might prefer to make decisions jointly. A prenup makes space for both perspectives.
Neptune Is The Smarter Way to Plan for Parenthood
A prenup cannot predict how your fertility journey will unfold. But it can ensure you have discussed the major decisions before you need to act on them. This is not just about legal protection. It is about emotional maturity, shared intention, and clear communication.
Neptune helps couples have these complex conversations with care and structure. We connect you with family law attorneys who understand fertility law and support you in building a prenup that reflects your goals.
If you’re planning for parenthood, plan for it together. Start with Neptune.
Frequently asked questions
How much does IVF cost and can prenups cover fertility expenses?
The average IVF cycle costs up to $30,000, and most people need more than one cycle. A prenup can include clear language around funding fertility treatments such as IVF, egg freezing, or surrogacy, helping couples split these costs and set financial expectations upfront.
What happens to frozen embryos if a couple separates?
A prenup can specify what happens to embryos, sperm, or eggs in case of separation. This helps avoid legal uncertainty around reproductive materials and respects each partner's preferences about reproductive autonomy after the relationship ends.
Can a prenup include egg freezing and fertility treatment costs?
Yes, a thoughtfully written prenup can include provisions for fertility treatments including egg freezing, which ranges between $10,000 and $20,000 plus yearly storage fees. The agreement can outline how couples will divide these family-building costs during marriage.
How much does adoption cost and can prenups address it?
Adoption can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000 depending on the type. A prenup can include each partner's preferences about adoption or surrogacy in the future and establish budget expectations for long-term family-building efforts.
Why should couples include fertility clauses in prenups?
Fertility clauses help couples align on major decisions early, avoiding last-minute confusion about time-sensitive fertility choices. They set clear financial expectations for expensive treatments and respect personal boundaries around reproductive decisions, ensuring both emotional maturity and shared intention.