Things You'll Need:
- Your readiness
- Legal requirements for getting married
- The wedding
- Pre-marital agreements
- Name change
- Money and property
Step 1
The success and/or failure of a marriage may depend on how well the couple deals with issues such as finances, communication, conflict, parenting virtues, religion, expectations from one another, etc. It is important that future spouses consider and fully discuss these issues before getting married. another way to assure that you will be ready for marriage is to date the person a long time (maybe 3-5 years or more) before deciding to get married.
Step 2
Each state, province and/or jurisdiction has its own requirements for couples wishing to be wed. These include marriage licenses, blood tests, residency requirements, and much more. Make sure you and your significant other have fulfilled all marriage requirements in your respective state before your big day arrives.
Step 3
Many states do have legal requirements relating to the wedding itself. This includes but is not limited to who may perform the wedding (such as a justice of the peace or a reverend) and whether witnesses to the wedding are required. Consult a family law attorney concerning the laws of your state concerning this.
Step 4
A prenuptial or pre-marital agreement can help decide property and financial rights and obligations of marrying spouses, including what will happen and who gets what if anything if the relationship were to end. If you are considering a pre-marital agreement, you should be aware of legal rules and regulations (respectful to each state/province) that must be met in order for the agreement to be considered valid and enforceable. You consult with your family lawyer about the engaging details of a prenup. While this is not a pleasant issue to talk about, be advised. If one or both of you are rich and have a lot of assets you need to consider this agreement because if you dont and the relationship fails, you could be stuck giving half or mostly all of your assets to your estranged
Step 5
After marriage, spouses are not legally required to take the other spouse's last name, but many choose to do so for traditional and very symbolic reasons, such as, when you marry someone you are not two but rather a unit. There are a number of steps you can take to make a name change quickly and effectively consult with family counsel for more on name change laws in your state. Many common questions do arise concerning name change such as: Does the woman have to take her husband's name? Answer: No. Can you hyphenate your name? Answer: Yes.
Tips & Warnings
- Marriage can be only two things. Happy and Not Happy. Period. Make the best of your marriage. It can be one of the best experiences of your life.
- While marriage does have its highs; it does have its lows as well. I strongly urge you to scout your future spouse well before considering marriage.
