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Your Post-Honeymoon Legal Checklist

Posted by ANGELA RICH HARTMANN | Jan 29, 2025 | 0 Comments

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, 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 life insurance policies, 401(k)s, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), annuities, and other investment accounts.

        Seek advice from your tax preparer about adjusting 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 choose, change real estate ownership to reflect your marital status or add your new spouse as a joint owner.

In addition to the above, if you decide to change your name legally, 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 your life's financial and legal aspects align with your new marital status. Contact us today to learn how we can help you enjoy your wedded bliss with financial and legal security.

Contact Hartmann Law Today

If you have questions about estate planning, contact our office to speak to an estate planning attorney.

Take steps to start your Life and Legacy planning today!  Take action to ensure your voice is heard when you are unable to speak for yourself.  Make the decision to protect yourself, your loved ones, your business, your property.   

Schedule a call today with Hartmann Law.

Hartmann Law provides Life and Legacy plans ready for today with an eye on the future.

YOUR CHOICES.  OUR GUIDANCE.

Life and Legacy Plans created by design and not by default!

 

About the Author

ANGELA RICH HARTMANN

Angela Rich Hartmann is a New Jersey attorney serving clients in the areas of estate, business, and real estate law.

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