| When You Decide To Marry: |
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Talk to each other about your financial habits, attitudes and behaviors. |
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Disclose your assets to each other. |
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Disclose your debts to each other. |
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Set goals for yourselves as a couple. |
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Create a budget together. |
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Begin saving for joint financial goals. |
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Begin to pay debts in full by the time you marry. |
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Discuss whether or not you want or need a prenuptial agreement. If so, what needs to be included? |
| Two Months Before Your Wedding: |
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Begin to create your post-wedding budget. |
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Decide how money will be managed in your marriage. |
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Decide if you will change your name when married. |
| One Month Before Your Wedding: |
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Finalize your post-wedding budget. |
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Decide who will assume financial responsibilities. |
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Establish your emergency fund. |
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Identify sources of records where you will need to change your name/address. |
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Continue to openly discuss financial management matters. |
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If you need health, disability or life insurance, begin considering policies. |
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Continue to work on a prenuptial agreement with your attorney(s). Sign the agreement 2 weeks before your wedding. |
| Immediately After Your Wedding: |
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Make name and address changes, as necessary. |
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Change beneficiary designations or insurance policies, pension plans, other documents, as necessary. |
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Review all insurance policies. Cancel duplicate policies, memberships, subscriptions and services. |
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Update your will. If you have no will, prepare and execute one. |
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Create a durable power of attorney for financial matters and for health care. Consider signing a Directive to Physician. |
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Contact your employer to make changes to benefits as needed, that reflect your requirements as a new couple. |
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Schedule a time for your financial management discussions. |
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Organize your personal documents. |
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Review federal income tax status and decide which filing status is most beneficial. |
Basic Money Management
Basic Money Management
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