For Google employees with GSUs and unvested equity
A prenup built around your Google stock compensation
GSUs that vest during marriage, overlapping refresh grants, and front-loaded vesting schedules raise questions that standard prenup templates do not address. Neptune connects you with two independent attorneys and a guided process designed for couples with substantial unvested equity.
Flat fee of $5,000 per couple. No payment to get started.
Why Google employees use prenups
What standard prenup templates do not account for
Google’s equity structure raises specific questions that go beyond boilerplate agreements. These are the situations a prenup can help address for couples with GSU compensation.
- 1
GSUs that vest during the marriage
Shares granted before the wedding but vesting after it can be treated as community property in California under default state rules. A prenup can help clarify how each tranche is characterized, using the vesting schedule and grant date as reference points.
- 2
Front-loaded vesting means fast accumulation early
Google’s vesting is often front-loaded (commonly 33/33/22/12 or 38/32/20/10 across four years), so a large share of a grant vests in the first two years. Without an agreement, a significant amount of equity can shift in character quickly after the wedding.
- 3
Overlapping refresh grants
Google issues annual refresh grants while prior grants are still vesting, so many employees hold unvested equity from two or three grants at once. A prenup can help address how new grants are treated alongside existing unvested balances.
- 4
Future GSU grants after marriage
New GSU grants issued after the wedding are generally treated as separate property only when the prenup addresses future equity grants clearly. Without that language, your state’s default rules apply, which may not reflect your intentions.
- 5
Variable compensation from annual reviews
Google’s performance review process affects bonus and refresh grant size year to year. A prenup can address how variable cash bonuses and new equity grants tied to annual reviews are characterized during the marriage.
- 6
Moves between California, New York, and Washington
Many Google employees move between offices in different states, each with its own community and separate property rules. A prenup with a governing-law clause can help reduce the uncertainty that comes with cross-state moves.
How Neptune works
From first question to signed agreement
Step 1
Get aligned with guided intake
Answer questions about your finances, equity, and goals as a couple. Neptune’s guided intake helps both partners get clear on what matters before any legal work begins.
- Talk through equity, debt, and priorities
- Surface the conversations that matter early
- Walk in prepared, not starting from a blank page
Step 2
Work with two independent attorneys
Neptune connects each partner with a separate, licensed attorney for a free consultation. One attorney represents you; a different attorney represents your partner. No payment is required until you decide to move forward.
- A separate attorney for each partner
- Free consultations before you commit
- Independent counsel supports a fair agreement
Step 3
Review, finalize, and sign
Your drafting attorney prepares an agreement based on your situation, and your partner’s reviewing attorney reviews it with them independently. Turnaround is typically around 3 to 4 weeks when both partners use Neptune attorneys, though this can vary.
- A tailored agreement, not a template
- Independent review for your partner
- Concierge support through signing
Transparent pricing
One flat fee. Two independent attorneys.
$5,000
per couple, total
Rush pricing applies when the wedding is within 45 days. Complexity factors may affect the final fee.
Start your prenupGuides and resources
Read more before you begin
How to handle RSUs and options in a prenup
A practical breakdown of how RSUs, stock options, and vesting schedules are treated in prenup agreements and what to address before drafting begins.
Read the guideRSU tax in California
How RSUs are taxed in California, including state income tax treatment and community property considerations to know before your vesting date.
Read the guideCommon questions from Google employees
Does equity that vests during the marriage become community property?
In California, shares granted before marriage but vesting during it are often treated as community property under state-law defaults, based on a time-rule allocation between the pre-marital and marital periods. A prenup can help clarify how each tranche of unvested GSUs is characterized, reducing the ambiguity that default rules would otherwise create. Your attorney can review your specific grant agreements and vesting schedule as part of drafting.
What happens to Google refresh grants issued after the wedding?
New GSU grants issued after the marriage are generally treated as separate property only if your prenup addresses future equity grants clearly. Without that language, state-law defaults apply. Neptune’s guided intake is designed to surface questions about refresh grants so your attorney can draft language that reflects how you and your partner want future grants treated.
Does California require each party to have their own attorney?
California law sets specific conditions for when a premarital agreement is enforceable, and independent legal representation for each party is one of the most important. Neptune’s model includes a separate attorney for each partner, which addresses this directly. One payment covers both: $3,000 for the drafting attorney and $2,000 for the reviewing attorney.
What if we move from California to another state?
California, Washington, and New York each have different rules for community and separate property. A prenup with a governing-law clause can help address which state’s law applies if you relocate. Neptune’s guided intake asks about your current state and any planned moves so your attorney can draft language that can help reduce ambiguity.
What does Neptune cost and how long does it take?
Neptune’s prenup is a flat fee of $5,000 per couple, covering two independent attorneys: $3,000 for the drafting attorney and $2,000 for the reviewing attorney. Rush pricing applies when the wedding is within 45 days, and complexity factors may affect the final fee. Turnaround is typically around 3 to 4 weeks when both partners use Neptune attorneys, though using an outside attorney or extra revisions can extend that.