Welcome back to The Code of Style, and this feature about Smart Moves To Make Before Marriage.
Marriage is a wonderful thing. Once the all-important question of “Will you marry me?” has been asked and answered, you may begin thinking of how you will tie the proverbial knot, the dress, whom to invite, and all the other beautiful details.
There are other things to consider, however, when beginning a life together to help make yours a beautiful partnership. Read on to learn more about how you can make it happen.
Smart Moves To Make Before Marriage
Work Out a Prenup
A prenuptial agreement, more commonly known as a prenup, might not be what you think it is. For many, the idea evokes vast wealth in one or both soon-to-be-married partners. A prenup is a legally binding protective arrangement that can range from who gets the family home to which one of you will maintain custody of your beloved dog should the marriage end in divorce.
While no one ever goes into a loving and blissful marriage thinking of a potential divorce on the horizon, it does happen, as you know. The best way to approach the idea of a prenup is to think of how you will handle your finances after marriage. Do you intend to merge your bank accounts or keep them separate? Will one person move into the other’s already established home? If so, how will the mortgage be paid?
Combining two people into one, as they say, can be a complicated business. A prenup will help set the expectations of who will get what based on your discussions with a licensed legal team who will walk you through the process. Deciding on a prenup for your marital union does not mean it is doomed before it begins or you are expecting failure. It is good financial planning to ensure the road ahead is protected for both of you.
As time passes and you celebrate anniversary after anniversary, review your prenuptial agreement, as your circumstances may have changed. Look over and update it as you would your Last Will and Testament or Powers of Attorney. Talk with your partner and click here to learn more about prenups. You will both be glad you did once the paperwork is signed.
Go to Couples Counselling
Why should you go to counselling before the ink on your marriage certificate has dried or the ceremony has even taken place? The simple answer is that most people have patterns of behaviour that impact their communication style. If your family of origin had a habit of using passive-aggressive tactics or guilt, you may unknowingly continue those communication strategies with your partner before and after marriage.
Even if you feel that you and your partner can talk through your problems, concerns, and make decisions with respect toward one another’s lives, talking with a third party will still serve your union well. A couples counsellor or therapist can help you navigate the potentially touchy waters of discussing where to live, whether or not to have children, and this is a big one – how to respectfully deal with one another’s families.
On the surface, everything may seem fine in your relationship, and it may truly be that way at present. Unfortunately, as time marches on, new problems or concerns will inevitably pop up. Knowing how to talk and listen effectively with one another will help you work through future issues when they arise as a team instead of two separate people in the same household.
Make a Name Change Decision
In today’s world, not everyone changes their name after they are married. Sometimes each partner combines or changes their names to a new chosen surname. Whatever your decision or expectation, this is another topic to discuss with your partner so there are no surprises or disappointments after the wedding.
Once you have come to a decision and agreement on surnames, you need to understand the process so you can complete the necessary paperwork quickly following the wedding. This way, you can change your name legally on other essential documents, such as mortgage paperwork, Powers of Attorney, etc.
In Conclusion
Go forth with your life partner and work on ways to make your upcoming marriage even better than you could have imagined after you have popped the question. Talk with one another about your wants, needs, and expectations for your future together as well as your personal goals and dreams. Prepare the necessary paperwork to secure your rights and futures both together and independently. Continue to keep the lines of communication open throughout your marriage. Plan, prepare, and grow in your relationship through mutual trust and care. Congratulations!
We hope you found this article about “Smart Moves To Make Before Marriage” helpful and you can have a look here for more of our relationships features.
I’m Julia, the Senior Managing Editor and I can’t wait to share some more articles with you again soon! In the meantime you can find more style, lifestyle and travel inspiration on “The Velvet Runway” .
Thank you for reading
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