For data scientists and ML engineers
Prenups for data scientists
The AI talent market has created exceptional compensation packages for data scientists and ML engineers. When your income may grow substantially in the early years of marriage, a prenup helps both partners plan clearly.
Flat fee of $5,000 per couple. No payment to get started.
The AI talent premium
The AI compensation shift
Data science and machine learning compensation has grown rapidly over the past several years. Senior data scientists at major technology companies typically earn between $350K and $460K in total compensation, with AI and ML specializations often commanding significantly more.
This creates a situation where one partner’s income may increase substantially during the early years of marriage. A data scientist who joins a company at $250K total comp today may be at $450K within two to three years through promotions, refresher grants, and the compounding effect of the AI talent market.
For couples getting married during this period of rapid growth, a prenup provides a framework for addressing how that growth is handled: not as a sign of distrust, but as a shared plan that both partners agree to while the relationship is strong.
Common scenarios
Three scenarios data scientists face
Rapid career acceleration
AI and ML talent is being promoted faster than in other engineering disciplines. A data scientist might move from IC4 to IC6 in three years, with each level bringing a substantial equity increase. A prenup written at one level should account for the trajectory ahead.
Series B → IPO
18 to 36 months typical
The startup-to-public pipeline
Many AI startups are approaching liquidity events. Data scientists who joined early with significant equity grants may see those shares become liquid during the marriage. A prenup can address how pre-marital equity is treated when a liquidity event occurs after the wedding.
Cross-border complexity
Many data scientists are international, working in the US on H-1B or O-1 visas with assets in multiple countries. This adds jurisdictional questions about which country’s property rules apply to which assets. Your attorney can help you navigate how international assets are addressed in a US prenup.
The Neptune process
Built for analytical minds
| What you get | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| A guided intake in plain language | No ambiguity about what information is needed. Clear inputs, clear outputs. |
| Two independent attorneys (one per partner) | Each partner has separate counsel reviewing the agreement. No conflicts of interest. |
| A flat fee with no surprises | $5,000 total. You know the cost before you start. No hourly billing uncertainty. |
| A structured timeline | Typically around 3 to 4 weeks when both partners use Neptune attorneys. Predictable process. |
| A document that addresses your specific assets | Pre-IPO equity, international assets, and rapid comp growth are addressed directly. |
Transparent pricing
$5,000
per couple, flat fee
$3,000 drafting attorney + $2,000 reviewing attorney. No payment to get started. Rush pricing applies when the wedding is within 45 days.
Questions from data scientists
How does a prenup handle RSUs from an AI startup that may IPO?
Pre-IPO equity is difficult to value with certainty. Your attorney can help you address how unvested or illiquid shares are treated, including what happens if a liquidity event occurs during the marriage.
I’m on an H-1B visa. Does that affect the prenup process?
Visa status does not change the prenup process itself, but international considerations (assets in multiple countries, potential relocation) can add complexity that your attorney will help you navigate.
My compensation has doubled in two years. How should I think about future growth?
Rapid compensation growth is common in AI and data science. A prenup can address both current assets and how future earnings or equity grants during the marriage are handled.
What about research I publish or patents I contribute to?
Intellectual property created during employment is typically governed by your employment agreement. A prenup can address personal IP and how it interacts with marital property rules.
Do both partners need to agree on how equity is classified?
Yes, a prenup is a mutual agreement. Each partner has their own independent attorney who reviews the terms on their behalf.