For architects and design professionals
Where creative practice meets business equity, a prenup fills the gap
Firm ownership, project-based fee structures, and professional credentials create financial questions that neither a standard W-2 template nor a generic business-owner prenup can address. Your agreement should reflect how architecture practices actually work.
Flat fee of $5,000 per couple. No payment to get started.
The ownership question
Three ownership models, three different prenup conversations
Nearly half of employees at small architecture firms hold ownership stakes. How your equity is structured changes what a prenup needs to address.
Solo practitioner
You own the entire practice
- The full value of your firm, including project pipeline and client relationships, may be treated as your separate property if established before marriage.
- Revenue earned during the marriage raises questions about how income from pre-marital goodwill is characterized.
- Your attorney can help clarify what constitutes business value versus ongoing compensation.
Firm principal or partner
You hold equity in a multi-owner practice
- AEC firm equity is commonly valued at 50% of net service revenue. A prenup can describe how your ownership stake is treated.
- Buy-sell agreements, partner buyout terms, and restrictive covenants may limit transferability. Your attorney can review how these constraints interact with marital property.
- Ownership transitions often span 10 or more years. A prenup can account for equity that grows or vests over time.
ESOP participant
You hold shares through an employee ownership plan
- ESOP shares vest on a schedule and may not be liquid until a triggering event. A prenup can address how unvested shares are treated.
- Distributions from an ESOP during the marriage may be characterized differently than the underlying share value.
- Your attorney can review how ESOP participation interacts with other retirement assets and deferred compensation.
Project-based income
Why architecture income varies by project phase and pipeline
A single project can span 2 to 5 years from schematic design through construction completion. Fee payments are tied to milestones, not calendar months. When your firm carries multiple projects at different phases, income fluctuates dramatically.
Typical fee allocation by project phase
Schematic design
Initial concepts and feasibility
Design development
Refined drawings and systems
Construction documents
Full technical documentation
Construction administration
Field oversight through completion
A firm with 8 active projects at different phases might collect 40% of its annual revenue in a single quarter when multiple projects hit construction document milestones simultaneously. The next quarter might see minimal billings while new projects are in early design.
This variability matters for a prenup because income "earned" in one period may not be collected for months. A prenup can address how project fees are characterized based on when the work was performed versus when payment arrives. Your attorney can review what framework makes sense for your practice.
What a prenup can address
Five areas where architecture intersects with prenup planning
Firm equity and ownership stake
Whether you own 5% or 100% of your practice, your ownership stake has value that may appreciate over time. A prenup can describe how firm equity is treated, including provisions for future partner buyouts, ownership transitions, and changes in your percentage of the practice.
Project pipeline and fee receivables
Architecture firms often carry significant accounts receivable. Fees earned on a project that spans years from design through construction administration create questions about when income is "earned." Your attorney can help address how in-progress projects and outstanding invoices are characterized.
Professional license and AIA credentials
Your architecture license is personal to you, but the earning capacity it enables may be relevant in a financial agreement. A prenup can clarify that professional credentials remain your separate property while addressing how income generated through licensure is shared.
Non-compete restrictions on practice
Nearly half of AEC principals are bound by non-compete agreements. If your ability to practice independently is restricted, that constraint affects your earning potential. A prenup can acknowledge how non-compete obligations may limit future income or require geographic relocation.
Intellectual property and design work
Architectural drawings, design concepts, and proprietary methodologies created before the marriage may be addressed as separate property. Work product created during the marriage, especially if it generates licensing fees or publication income, raises different questions your attorney can review.
How Neptune works
Three steps to a prenup that understands architecture practice
Guided intake for design professionals
Neptune asks about your firm structure, ownership percentage, project pipeline, and professional credentials in plain language. No legal jargon required.
Free attorney consultation
Each partner gets connected with a separate, licensed attorney. Your attorney can review how architecture-specific assets and income patterns fit into the agreement.
Finalized agreement
Your attorney drafts an agreement that reflects the realities of project-based income and practice ownership. Turnaround is typically around 3 to 4 weeks when both partners use Neptune attorneys.
Transparent pricing
One flat fee. Two independent attorneys.
$5,000
per couple, total
Rush pricing applies when the wedding is within 45 days. No payment required to get started.
Start your prenupGuides for you
Guides on assets, debt, and equity
Start with the guides other couples read before they begin, then take the next step when you are ready.
Common questions from architects
How is an architecture firm valued in a prenup?
Architecture firms are typically valued based on a combination of net service revenue, backlog (contracted but unearned fees), and goodwill. Unlike businesses with physical inventory, much of a firm's value is tied to relationships, reputation, and ongoing projects. Your attorney can help you describe the firm's value in a way that accounts for these intangible factors without requiring a formal appraisal upfront.
What about joint venture liability from projects during the marriage?
Joint ventures create joint and several liability for all obligations regardless of each party's fault contribution. If you enter a JV during the marriage and it results in claims or losses, a prenup can address how those liabilities are allocated between marital and separate property. Your attorney can review how to structure protections around project-level risk.
My firm has a 10-year ownership transition plan. How does that work in a prenup?
Long-term ownership transitions are common in architecture. A prenup can address equity you own today, equity you are scheduled to acquire, and the terms under which you might sell back your stake. Because these transitions often span the entire length of a marriage, your attorney can help think through scenarios for ownership that changes over time.
We are both architects. Does that change anything?
When both partners are design professionals, the prenup conversation may involve two separate practices, overlapping professional networks, and potentially shared project experience. Each partner still gets their own independent attorney through Neptune. The agreement can address both practices symmetrically or differently depending on the circumstances.
What does it cost and how long does it take?
Neptune charges a flat fee of $5,000 per couple, which covers two independent attorneys (one for each partner). No payment is required to get started. Turnaround is typically around 3 to 4 weeks when both partners use Neptune attorneys. Rush pricing applies when the wedding is within 45 days.