For medical residents and fellows
Do I need a prenup if I have more debt than income right now?
Often, yes. A resident’s balance sheet usually shows six-figure education debt against a training salary, but that picture changes fast once residency ends. A prenup can keep premarital debt with the borrower and set expectations for the income jump to come, before either one becomes a source of conflict. Neptune is the lawyer-led online prenup service: both partners get their own lawyer for one flat fee.
$5,000 flat fee per couple. No payment to get started.
The income cliff
Residency pay and attending pay are not close
Training salaries are largely fixed by the sponsoring institution and rise only modestly year to year. The jump to attending-level pay, when it comes, is often the single largest income change either partner will ever experience in one step.
| Stage | Typical annual range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| PGY-1 resident | $60,000 - $75,000 | Training salary, largely set by the sponsoring institution |
| Chief resident / senior fellow | $70,000 - $88,000 | A modest step up in the final training years |
| First-year attending | $220,000 - $400,000+ | Varies widely by specialty, setting, and location |
Ranges vary by specialty, region, and practice setting. Figures shown are illustrative, not a projection for any individual resident.
Where the debt question gets specific
Three things that make medical school debt different from other debt
The debt is real before the income is
Most medical graduates carry six-figure education debt, and it is fully in place well before residency pay catches up to it. A prenup can state plainly that debt taken on before the wedding stays with the borrower, so the training years do not quietly turn premarital debt into a shared question.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness changes the math
Residents at qualifying nonprofit or government-affiliated hospitals can often count every month of training toward the 120 qualifying payments Public Service Loan Forgiveness requires, so a chunk of the ten-year clock can run during residency itself. Whether a resident is pursuing PSLF changes how much debt is actually expected to be repaid versus forgiven, which is worth naming in a prenup rather than assuming.
Filing status affects the monthly payment
Income-driven repayment plans generally calculate the required payment using combined household income for a couple that files taxes jointly, and only the borrower’s income for a couple that files separately. Once married, that choice can move a resident’s loan payment up or down, and a prenup can record how the couple intends to approach it.
How Neptune works
Three steps to a prenup built around your training timeline
Training-aware intake
Neptune asks about your program, PGY year, existing loan balances, and whether you are pursuing PSLF, in plain language.
Two independent attorneys
Each partner is connected with a separate, experienced attorney who can review how your specific debt and income timeline should be addressed. Consultations are free.
An agreement that accounts for the income jump
Your attorney drafts terms addressing premarital debt, loan characterization, and how the transition to attending-level income is treated. Turnaround is typically around 3 to 4 weeks.
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 residents and fellows
I have far more debt than income right now. Do I still need a prenup?
A resident’s current net worth is often negative on paper, but the medical degree behind it typically leads to a significant income increase once training ends. A prenup addresses two separate things: keeping premarital debt with the person who incurred it, and setting expectations for how the income jump to attending-level pay is handled once it arrives. Many residents find it easier to have this conversation before the income shows up, rather than after. Your attorney can help you think through both pieces.
Does my spouse become responsible for my student loans once we marry?
Not automatically. Federal student loan debt generally stays the legal responsibility of the borrower, whether you are married or not. What can get more complicated is how repayment plans are calculated once you file taxes together, and whether marital income is later used to pay down a premarital loan. A prenup can address both of these directly instead of leaving them to be worked out later. Rules can vary by state, and your attorney can review what applies to you.
How does Public Service Loan Forgiveness factor into a prenup?
If you are working toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness at a qualifying nonprofit or government-affiliated hospital, residency years can often count toward the 120 qualifying payments required, which changes how much of your balance is actually expected to be repaid out of pocket versus forgiven. A prenup can note whether PSLF is part of the plan, since that assumption can affect how the couple thinks about the loan balance during the marriage. Your attorney can help you frame this without guaranteeing a specific forgiveness outcome, since program rules can change.
Should we file taxes jointly or separately because of my loans?
It depends on your repayment plan and your overall tax picture, and it is a decision worth revisiting once your spouse’s income is known. Filing jointly generally means your income-driven repayment plan calculates the monthly payment using both incomes, while filing separately can limit that calculation to your income alone but may give up certain tax benefits. A prenup will not make this decision for you, but it can record how you intend to approach it. A tax professional can help you run the numbers for your specific situation.
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.