What Should a Couple Consider When Merging Finances After Marriage?

Getting married is a significant step in anyone’s life. A couple that is looking to build a life together will often want to combine many, if not all, aspects of their lives, including their finances. However, when doing so, it is important to understand how to handle these issues, including what should be merged and what should be kept separate. By considering the steps to take and the assets and liabilities that will need to be accounted for, a couple can plan for the future while still ensuring that each spouse is protected if unexpected events such as divorce or death should occur. The decisions a couple makes can not only help them understand their current needs and their ongoing goals, but this can inform the estate planning process, allowing spouses to address their needs throughout the rest of their lives and leave behind a lasting legacy.

Steps to Take When Combining Finances

Before going ahead with a “merger,” a couple will want to fully understand their current financial picture. It is a good idea to sit down and make a complete accounting of the income earned by each spouse, their assets and debts, their current wants and needs, and their goals for the future. This can provide both spouses with an understanding of their financial position and an expectation of how they will handle things going forward. As they determine how they will merge different aspects of their finances, they may consider:

• Financial accounts – While many married couples have joint bank accounts, others choose to keep separate accounts. A joint checking account can be helpful, allowing spouses to deposit paychecks and pay household expenses, and a joint savings account can provide a couple with a place to pool their savings and keep an emergency fund. However, some couples may prefer to maintain separate accounts, and in these cases, they will often agree on who will pay certain expenses or when they will transfer money to each other.
• Credit cards and other debts – If one spouse entered their marriage with significant debts, it may be a good idea to have them keep their own credit cards in their name, which will ensure that the other spouse will not be liable for these debts in the event of divorce. However, a couple may also choose to share joint credit card accounts or other types of loans, ensuring that they will both be able to take on some of the burden of these debts.
• Retirement – When a person’s employer provides retirement benefits, they will usually maintain an account in their own name, such as a 401(k) or IRA. These accounts will often be kept separate, although spouses will usually want to understand the amount that they have each saved so that they can make plans for their retirement together.
• Valuable assets – When making major purchases, such as buying a new home or car, a married couple will often choose to own these assets jointly. This can ensure that if one spouse dies, the other will be able to maintain ownership of this property. However, if either spouse owned a home or other valuable assets before getting married, they may wish to maintain sole ownership in order to protect their rights in the event of divorce.
• Estate planning decisions – It is a good idea to plan for the unexpected, including deciding what should happen after a person dies. A couple can do so by creating wills that detail how ownership of assets will be handled after the death of a spouse, and they may also want to create trusts that will allow assets to be passed to heirs more easily. Life insurance policies can also be an important part of the estate planning process, and different types of instruments can be used to ensure that they will be handled properly.

Contact Our DuPage County Estate Planning Lawyer

As you work out how to handle your finances as a married couple, you can determine the best ways to plan for the future and work toward achieving your goals by consulting with an estate planning attorney. At the Gierach Law Firm, we can help you understand your options, and we will work with you to create the legal documents that will provide you with protection and ensure that your wishes will be followed correctly. Contact our Naperville estate planning attorney today at 630-228-9413 to arrange a consultation.

Sources:

Moneygeek

Clever Girl Finance

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