Professional Guidance on How to Get a Prenup: A Step-by-Step Process

Modern couples are entering marriage with more complexity — equity, real estate, dual incomes, inheritance, and career gaps. As a result, prenups are on the rise: today’s couples are up to 5x more likely to get one than they were 15 years ago.

But the systems around them haven’t caught up. Money is still treated as taboo. The legal process is convoluted and often adversarial. Couples navigating a prenup can be left guessing who to trust, what questions to ask, how much to pay. 

This guide is here to help. We’ll walk you through the steps to create a prenup and show you where to get started. 

Why Should You Get a Prenup?

You should consider a prenup if you and your partner are serious about planning well for your future and doing so in a transparent, collaborative way. 

Here are the main reasons why you should get a prenup:

1. Building trust through transparency

Working together to create a prenup shows commitment to handling important decisions as a team. Conversations around finances can be uncomfortable for couples. Yet prenups create a space to openly discuss financial values, concerns and expectations. 

2. Secure financial future 

The prenup process lets couples decide their shared financial values. It helps them partner up to determine how they’d split assets and debts if their future doesn’t go as planned. Partners can customize prenup terms based on what suits them, while being fair to each other. Together, they feel more secure about their financial future.

3. Managing unexpected scenarios 

A prenup may outline measures couples must take in case of unexpected financial challenges, such as job loss, medical expenses or economic downturns. This creates a safety net for them. 

How to Get a Prenup?

The prenup process starts with partners establishing goals and expectations. Next, you hire a lawyer. Your partner should hire a lawyer as well. Both of you and your lawyers will work together throughout the drafting, reviewing and negotiation process.  Open communication and full disclosure are key to the whole process. 

When you’re ready to get a prenup, know that Neptune is here to help. It is a first-of-its-kind financial concierge built for couples with complex finances and professional ambition. Starting with prenups, we guide partners through high-stakes money decisions with clarity, empathy, and strategy. By combining emotionally intelligent AI, vetted family lawyers, and transparent pricing, Neptune replaces tension with trust—turning a traditionally fraught process into a moment of financial alignment.

Follow these steps to create a prenup: 

Step 1: Initial discussion and planning 

Think of a prenup as collaborative financial planning. Openly share your motivations and expectations, and listen to your partner’s viewpoints. If you start the process early, at least three to six months before your wedding date, you’ll thank yourself later. Avoid rushing the process, as agreements made under pressure may not hold up in court.

Next, create a list of assets, debts, and income for both partners. Gather documents for bank accounts, investments, and businesses. Identify inherited assets or family property to consider.

Discuss your vision and values for collaborative financial planning. Identify areas where you want specific terms. For instance, you should get on the same page about the breakdown of business ownership and debt responsibility. Also consider future scenarios like career shifts, children or retirement planning. Focus on shared goals and values rather than individual positions.

By definition, a prenup must be created before you marry. If you don’t get a prenup in time, you may want to consider a postnuptial agreement, although you should know that postnups and prenups follow different laws and requirements.

Step 2: Legal consultation 

Each partner must have their own independent lawyer. It's actually common for prenups to get struck down if both partners share a lawyer. When you talk to your lawyer, be sure to discuss issues including your prenup goals, the laws in your state that affect prenups, and how to prepare financial disclosure statements.

Step 3: Drafting and negotiation

Your lawyer can draft the prenup, and then your partner’s lawyer will review it. Both your lawyers will work together to move the prenup to the final stage. Be sure that the terms of your prenup addresses important aspects such as how you’d divide assets and debt if the future doesn’t go as planned. Take your time to fully understand the implications of all the terms.

As you review and revise the prenup, focus on creating terms that are fair to both of you. It may take a significant amount of time and several rounds of revisions to strike the right balance. When you have an agreement that sets your future up for success, you’ll be glad you slowed down and did everything the right way. Ensure you make full and fair disclosures and address what to do if financial circumstances change. Your prenup also should detail a schedule for periodically reviewing the agreement into the future.

Step 4: Execution and completion 

Partners must carefully review the final agreement with their lawyers and ensure they understand every provision and their implications. They must confirm that the agreement reflects their expectations.

You should also check your state laws for its proper execution. Find out whether you need to sign the agreement in the presence of witnesses or a notary. Keep easily accessible copies of your prenup for future reference. Consider sharing relevant portions of the prenup with financial advisors for strong planning.

Where to Get a Prenup?

If the prenup process seems daunting, turn to Neptune, where you invest in clarity and peace of mind. No more anxiety about $10-20k retainers, hourly rates, and surprise invoices. Neptune delivers transparent, flat-fee pricing with exclusive rates negotiated with top-tier lawyers. You know exactly what you’re paying—and what you’re paying for: experience, precision, and peace of mind.  Chat with Neptune today.