Wedding Checklist

Pre- and Post-Wedding hints about “marrying” your money!

Many people are excited to get married, but find combining their financial lives with their love lives a little harder. Sitting down with a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and working through some of these issues can take a lot of the stress out of planning your financial future together. In the meantime, here is a Checklist to help you get started “marrying” your finances.

• Be Upfront About Your Situation – Be honest about your income, debt and assets. Don’t be afraid to be upfront with your future spouse. If the conversation is difficult, work it out with a Financial Planner.
  
  
• Pre-Nup or No Pre-Nup – That is the Question! Generally speaking, a Pre-nuptial agreement isn’t needed if you are coming into the relationship with similar assets and no kids from prior relationships. Children from a prior marriage, a large amount of assets or an expected inheritance are usual indicators of the need for a pre-nuptial agreement. There is nothing wrong with a Pre-Nup if it gives you peace of mind.
  
  
• Talk About Your Financial Styles and Knowledge – Discuss how you, as a couple, are going to manage your affairs, make purchase decisions and keep track of everything, including goal setting. Make sure you are on the same page. If you disagree, meet with a Financial Planner and let them help you set up a system and discuss different ways to handle your financial affairs.

Name Changes & Notifications

• Social Security- www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf
• Driver’s License- Visit your local DMV to update your license. Be sure to bring your completed application for a social security card. You will also need proof of your identity (passport, former license, ect.) and proof of your U.S. Citizenship (birth certificate, certificate of citizenship/naturalization).
• Car Registration- Visit your local DMV to update your registration and bring your marriage certificate, documentation of your name change, existing vehical registration, and your driver's license.
• Passport- https://goo.gl/xc8ScT go to this site and follow the instructions
• Bank Account- Visit your bank in person with your new license and social security card
• Life, Health, Home, Auto Insurance- Changing the beneficiaries, last name, and possibly the amount of coverage are all priorities for a new marriage. In addition selecting whose policies now cover both of you is a major decision
• Credit Cards & Loans - Contact the three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, TransUnion, Experian) with your contact information as well as proof of name change.
• Lease or home deed

• Name Changes – If you don’t change your name, notify others of your alternate name since confusion can still arise. Traveling and emergencies will be easier if your married name is part of at least one ID.
  
  
• Update Bank Accounts – Create a joint account if you are not combining everything right away, at least temporarily. Decide where your paychecks are going and if you are paying half each or merging everything.
  
  
• BE CAREFUL ABOUT CLOSING or CANCELLING CREDIT CARDS – Many things affect your credit score, including payment history and how long you have had the card. If your cards have excellent records, it might be better to add your new spouse instead of opening a new card and closing the old one.
  
  
• Update Health Insurance – Evaluate who has the better plan. It’s often okay to divide benefits –i.e. he has a better dental and eye care plan, she has a less expensive medical policy.
  
  
• Wills and Legal Documents – It is important to get these documents updated. A lawyer will make sure you have current Wills, Health Care Proxies, Living Wills and Powers of Attorney.
  
  
• Update Car Insurance – Notify them of new second driver and marriage. Sometimes that can lower your rate! Ask if the rate changes depending on which spouse is the primary driver for which car. Assign the driver with the lesser record to the lesser car.
  
  
• Student Loans – Don’t necessarily consolidate your loans. It may affect your ability to get a mortgage or what happens to the debt if one of you passes away.