Your wedding day was absolutely perfect. You and your spouse went on your honeymoon and had the time of your lives. Now you are back and can breathe a sigh of relief as the years ahead unfold before your eyes. Well, not so fast. With your honeymoon over, there are several things you should be mindful of to ensure that the legal and financial parts of your life properly reflect your newly married status.
What to Do After the Honeymoon
As you start living happily ever after, make sure to take care of these post-honeymoon to-dos during the first few weeks (or even days) after your wedding. This will help give you peace of mind so you can enjoy the memories of your wedding and honeymoon for years to come. The following checklist can serve as a reminder of some of the tasks to which you should give your immediate attention:
- Meet with a knowledgeable estate planning attorney to discuss creating a will or trust or updating your current one from before you got married.
- Read over and update your existing financial power of attorney or have one drafted.
- Review and update your medical directive documents (medical power of attorney, advance directive or living will, and HIPAA authorization form) and provide copies to the necessary doctors’ offices.
- Check and update beneficiary designations on any life insurance policies, 401(k)s, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), annuities, and other investment accounts.
- Seek advice from your tax preparer about whether you should adjust your withholdings to reflect your new marital status.
- If you do not already have coverage, obtain life insurance and designate a beneficiary and a contingent beneficiary.
- If you have moved or are planning to, update your address with your auto insurer, banks, employer, and anyone else who needs it.
- If desired, add your spouse to your group health and dental insurance policy.
- If you so choose, change ownership of real estate to reflect your marital status or add your new spouse as a joint owner.
In addition to the above, if you decide to legally change your name, notify the following institutions:
- schools
- employers
- department of motor vehicles or secretary of state
- creditors (including credit card companies) and debtors
- Social Security Administration
- passport office
- insurance agencies
- state taxing authorities
- telephone and utility companies
- banks and financial institutions
- government benefits offices
Contact an Experienced Estate Planning Attorney
We are here to guide you through the estate planning process and ensure that the financial and legal aspects of your life align with your new marital status. Contact us today to learn about how we can help you enjoy your wedded bliss with financial and legal security.