Checklist For Legal And Financial Matters

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When You Decide To Marry:
  • Talk to each other about your financial habits, attitudes and behaviors


  • Disclose your assets to each other.


  • Disclose your debts to each other.


  • Set goals for yourselves as a couple.


  • Create a wedding budget together.


  • Begin saving for joint financial goals.


  • Begin to pay debts in full by the time you marry.


  • Discuss whether or not you want or need a prenuptial agreement. If so, what needs to be included?
Two Months Before Your Wedding:
  • Begin to create your post-wedding budget.


  • Decide how money will be managed in your marriage.


  • Decide if you will change your name when married.
One Month Before Your Wedding:
  • Finalize your post-wedding budget.


  • Decide who will assume financial responsibilities.


  • Establish your emergency fund.


  • Identify sources of records where you will need to change your name/address.


  • Continue to openly discuss financial management matters.


  • If you need health, disability or life insurance, begin considering policies.


  • Continue to work on prenuptial agreement with your attorney(s). Sign the agreement 2 weeks before your wedding.
Immediately After Your Wedding:
  • Make name and address changes, as necessary.


  • Change beneficiary designations or insurance policies, pension plans, other documents, as necessary.


  • Review all insurance policies. Cancel duplicate policies, memberships, subscriptions and services.


  • Update your will. If you have no will, prepare and execute one.


  • Create a durable power of attorney for financial matters and for health care.


  • Contact your employer to make changes to benefits as needed, that reflect your requirements as a new couple.


  • Schedule a time for your financial management discussions.


  • Organize your personal documents.


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