Marriage Checklist
Getting married or starting a long-term partnership.
8 expert-curated steps · Organized by urgency · Free preview below
What most people ask first
How do we merge finances and plans?
What legal protections do we need?
How do we align our goals?
Discuss finances openly before the wedding
Share debts, credit scores, income, and financial goals. Decide on joint vs separate accounts.
Why this matters: Money is the #1 source of conflict in marriages. Alignment before the wedding prevents surprises after.
Create or update your will
Name your spouse as beneficiary and decide on guardianship for any children.
Why this matters: Without a will, state law decides who gets what — and it may not match your wishes.
Research name change requirements in your state
If changing your name: Social Security card must be updated first, then driver's license, passport, bank accounts, employer records.
Why this matters: The order matters. Doing it wrong creates mismatched documents that cause months of headaches.
Update beneficiaries on all financial accounts
Life insurance, 401k, IRA, bank accounts, investment accounts — update every beneficiary designation.
Why this matters: Beneficiary designations override your will. If your ex is still listed, they get the money — not your spouse.
Review and combine insurance policies
Health, auto, home/renters — compare costs of combined vs separate policies.
Why this matters: Could save hundreds or thousands per year. Multi-policy discounts are significant.
3 more steps available
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