For Stanford University employees
Your research may be worth more than your salary. A prenup can help you get clear on both.
Stanford faculty, researchers, and staff navigate a financial picture that looks different from most high earners. Intellectual property from your research, subsidized housing, startup equity through the Office of Technology Licensing, and retirement benefits that build over decades all create a situation where the value of what you have built may not be immediately obvious, but is worth addressing clearly.
Flat fee of $5,000 per couple. No payment to get started.
The academic financial trajectory
Academics build wealth differently
Unlike a tech employee whose compensation peaks early, an academic career often starts with modest income during postdoctoral training and builds through tenure, licensing revenue, and consulting over decades. The financial picture at marriage depends heavily on where you are in this trajectory.
Postdoc or early career
Income
Relatively modest
Key assets
Student debt, early retirement contributions, possibly IP from graduate research
Timing context
Many academics marry during this phase, when income is lower but future earning potential is significant.
Tenure track
Income
Growing but variable
Key assets
Research IP accumulating, housing program eligibility, growing retirement
Timing context
The years leading to tenure involve building an IP portfolio whose value may not be realized for a decade or more.
Tenured faculty
Income
Substantial and stable
Key assets
Mature IP portfolio with licensing revenue, subsidized home equity, large retirement balance, possible startup interests
Timing context
A prenup at this stage addresses a more complex asset picture, but the principles are the same.
What a prenup can address
Five financial dimensions unique to academics
Each of these asset types has its own complexity. A prenup can provide clarity on how they are characterized and treated.
Intellectual property
Research conducted at Stanford may generate patents, licensing revenue, or spinoff company equity through the Office of Technology Licensing. Inventions made using university resources are typically assigned to Stanford, but inventors may receive a share of licensing income. The timing of when IP was developed relative to a marriage can affect how that income stream is characterized.
How a prenup helps
Your attorney can help you address how future licensing royalties or startup equity tied to your research are treated, especially when the underlying work spans time before and during a marriage.
Subsidized housing
Stanford offers faculty housing assistance programs, including below-market-rate home purchases and rental subsidies in the Palo Alto area. These programs can represent substantial economic value, but they come with restrictions on resale and occupancy.
How a prenup helps
A home purchased through a Stanford housing program may have unique resale restrictions and equity-sharing provisions with the university. Your attorney can help you think through how this asset is addressed given those constraints.
Retirement benefits
Stanford contributes to retirement accounts (TIAA/CREF and Fidelity options) with contributions that increase based on years of service. For tenured faculty, the long time horizon means these accounts can accumulate significantly over a career.
How a prenup helps
Retirement contributions made during a marriage may be treated differently than those made before. Your attorney can review how your specific benefits structure intersects with the rules in your state.
Sabbatical and grant income
Faculty on sabbatical may receive reduced university salary while earning income from visiting positions, book advances, consulting, or research grants. This creates periods where income sources shift and may be harder to categorize.
How a prenup helps
A prenup can address how income earned during sabbatical is treated, particularly when it comes from external sources unrelated to your Stanford appointment.
Startup equity
Stanford faculty frequently start companies based on their research, retaining founder equity while the university holds a licensing interest. These companies may remain private for years before generating liquidity.
How a prenup helps
Founder equity in a startup that originated from your research can be particularly complex because the underlying IP was developed over time. Your attorney can help you address how this equity is characterized depending on when the company was formed relative to your marriage.
How Neptune works
Built for complex financial pictures
Neptune's guided intake walks you through your assets in plain language, including IP, housing, retirement, and equity. No legal jargon required.
Complete the guided intake together
Covers your academic assets, housing situation, and financial goals.
Each partner gets their own attorney
Two independent, licensed attorneys who can explain how academic assets intersect with the rules in your state.
Receive a tailored agreement
Turnaround is typically around 3 to 4 weeks when both partners use Neptune attorneys.
Transparent pricing
$5,000
per couple, total
No payment to get started. Rush pricing applies when the wedding is within 45 days.
Start your prenupQuestions from Stanford employees
How is intellectual property from my research handled in a prenup?
IP developed at Stanford is typically assigned to the university, but you may receive a share of licensing income or equity in a spinoff company. A prenup can describe how these income streams are treated depending on when the underlying research was conducted. Your attorney can help you distinguish between IP developed before and during the marriage.
What about my Stanford subsidized housing?
Stanford housing assistance programs often come with resale restrictions and equity-sharing provisions with the university. A prenup can address how your interest in a subsidized home is characterized, keeping in mind that the economic value may be different from market value due to program restrictions. Your attorney can review the specific terms of your housing agreement.
My income varies significantly during sabbaticals. Does that matter?
Variable income during sabbatical (from consulting, visiting positions, grants, or book advances) can raise questions about how that income is characterized. A prenup can set expectations for how sabbatical income is treated, particularly when it comes from sources outside your Stanford appointment.
I am a postdoc. Is it too early to get a prenup?
No. Even at an early career stage, you may have IP from your graduate or postdoctoral research that could generate future value. A prenup can address both current assets and a framework for how future assets (like licensing revenue or startup equity) are handled. Starting early is often simpler because there are fewer assets to address.
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). There is no payment required to get started, and consultations are free. Turnaround is typically around 3 to 4 weeks when both partners use Neptune attorneys. Rush pricing applies when the wedding is within 45 days.