The Newlywed Checklist
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Published on: 14 March 2023
Last Updated on: 16 September 2024
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If you just got married, there’s a lot to take care of—and the newlywed checklist can get overwhelming quickly. There are potential name changes to submit, thank-you notes to send, and even joint bank accounts to open, among many other tasks.
Checklist For Newlyweds
Here are some of the most important personal and financial things to consider when starting out the newlywed checklist.
Send Thank-You Notes
If you just had a wedding, an excellent first task in the newlywed checklist is to send out thank-you notes to all your guests. Personalized thank-you cards or emails are an excellent way to show appreciation for their presence at the ceremony and acknowledge any gifts.
Pay Any Remaining Vendor Invoices
Make sure that all the invoices for the wedding, including caterers, florists, and photographers, are paid off.
Update Important Documents
If either spouse wants to change their name, now is the time to update your Social Security card, driver’s license, passport, and other documents.
Organize Documents
Get an organized system for keeping important documents like insurance policies, marriage certificates, and tax forms. Having all these items in one place can make life much easier when it comes time to update your accounts, apply for a loan, or submit any necessary paperwork.
Decide How You Want To File Taxes
Decide whether you want to file taxes jointly or separately. It can help to make this decision early on, even if you don’t have to file taxes for a while—this way, you can figure out any adjustments for a newlywed checklist to withholding if needed.
Update Contact Information
If you’re moving, update your address with the necessary parties, including your workplace, bank, and any insurance companies. Notify family members of your new address and set up mail forwarding if needed.
Put Together A Budget If You Haven’t Already
Just after getting married is the perfect time to get your finances in order. You may want to seek professional advice on how to work toward your financial goals together. This can also be a perfect time to create a budget that accounts for both incomes.
Consider Setting Up A Joint Bank Account
Having one shared bank account can make managing your finances easier. Consider setting up automatic deposits or transfers to ensure you’re saving and budgeting correctly. If you’re combining finances partially, figure out how you will accomplish this in a newlywed checklist that feels balanced. This can be especially important if one spouse makes significantly more than the other.
Figure Out Benefits
Getting married is a qualifying life event, so you can take the opportunity right after the wedding to decide if you want to be on your spouse’s health insurance and vice versa. When open enrollment rolls around, you can add your spouse as a beneficiary of your employer-provided life insurance.
Consider Getting Life Insurance
Many newlyweds opt to get term life insurance to ensure their spouse is provided for financially if they pass away unexpectedly. So You have to add these sections to your newlywed checklist.
Change Your Name Or Surname (if applicable)
If one or both of you are changing your last name, start the process of changing it on all legal documents, such as your driver’s license, social security card, passport, and bank account.
Update Your Beneficiaries
Review and update your beneficiaries on all accounts, including life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and wills.
Combine Couple Finances
Decide on a system for managing your finances, whether it’s joint accounts, separate accounts, or a combination of both. For a newlywed financial checklist, a couple of finances are must-do work.
Create A Budget
Create a budget together to plan for your expenses and savings. Often during the marriage, couples spend a significant amount. And by finalizing the budget, both of you can estimate the future expanse and limit the financial waste.
Update Your Insurance
Review your insurance policies and update them as needed. This newlywed checklist includes health, car, and home insurance.
Register Your Marriage
Register your marriage with the government, if required in your jurisdiction. Registrations are the most important action which you should take right before your marriage.
Create an emergency fund
Set up an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses. Emergency fund work as the financial backup for any unexpended expenses.
Plan your future
Set goals and make plans for your future together, whether it’s buying a house, having children, or traveling the world.
Enjoy Each Other
Take some time to relax and enjoy being newlyweds! Spend quality time together and create new memories.
Wrapping Up
This is the complete newlywed checklist. But every checklist can be different based on race and traditional cultures. But this list is short and simple, which anyone can follow and estimate the future financial situation. What is your opinion? Are you newlywed?
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