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 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 a 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. Consider signing a Directive to Physician.
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.
Review federal income tax status and decide which filing status is most beneficial.


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