In honor of Valentine’s Day, we are presenting a romantic blog post. At least, I think marriage is romantic. Some might not agree. They just need to chill out and eat some chocolates.

Deciding to get married to a potential spouse is a big decision with long-term implications for your financial wellbeing. Think ahead to what happens to your financial situation if your marriage takes a bad turn. Consider these issues before getting legally married.

1. Taking on joint debt. When you get married, the debts you acquire together will be your responsibility. In the event your marriage doesn’t work out, you may be obligated to pay off debts that your spouse incurs during your marriage depending on the laws of your state. The amount of debt you and your spouse can afford to repay matters, especially given the earning potential of your respective occupations.
2. Maintaining a good credit score. Related to your debt load is the credit history you will maintain while you are married. Look for a partner who shares your commitment for keeping a good credit score.
3. Trust. Getting married is a huge leap of faith. Can you trust your partner with your personal information? Trust matters when your spouse can open joint credit accounts using your financial information.
4. Budgeting. Does your partner pay bills on time? Have you talked about living on a budget? Some people who plan to get married try living together first to see if they are financially and domestically compatible. Develop your own method for determining whether your potential spouse is compatible with your financial goals.
5. Buying a house. This type of investment is one of the largest debts a married couple will assume during the legal union. Discuss long-term plans for investments such as property before retirement, including if home ownership is a shared financial goal.

You have to make decisions for your financial future by taking a hard look at your future spouse. Time and joint decision-making may help you to incrementally determine if your potential spouse is a match for you. Remember you can’t trust your credit and assets to just anyone. Financial issues are best solved before marriage.

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