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Planning to finally propose to your love? Made a decision about your relationship? Well and good but have you asked the right questions or not? There are many things to know and work out before getting married to somebody. Marriage takes a lot of work during it and even before one says I do. There are so many things to do before marriage and many things you should consider.
While walking down an aisle and saying ‘I do’ to your better half is the most magical time of one’s life, it is also equally important to finish some of the more practical considerations of a new marriage before a wedding as an Indian newly married couple.
Finally ready to take on the endless, “When will you get married” or “Are you married” question from relatives and family? Then here are a few legal and social things you should do before a wedding to have a happy married life.
Things Couples Should Talk About Before Marriage
While contemplating a marriage is a matter of the heart, it’s also important that you involve your head and prepare yourself for it beforehand so you ease into life after marriage. Things to know before getting married, analyzing the living situation, finances and families – there is a lot happening. There are many things nobody tells you about a marriage before a wedding.
But we have your back. Apart from the wedding ceremony and rituals, here are a few things you must take stock of and carefully consider before the big D-day arrives. Here is a list of things to do before getting married.
1. Apply for a marriage license
This is the first and most important step that you must know and take while getting married, that will legalize your marriage. It not only legally secures your marriage as a newlywed, but will also safeguard the partners in the likelihood of a separation or if things go astray or if there is a demise of a partner.
Among the important documents required include submitting details of your age proof and location proof via your Pan Card, Passport, Aadhaar Card or driving license, your tenth standard leaving certificate along with 2 passport size individual photos each, your wedding invitation, your wedding photo together, a copy of divorce if necessary, death certificate of husband or wife if either partner is a widow or widower.
You will also require to have 2 witnesses present with their ID proofs for acquiring the same at a district registrar’s office, pay a minimal registration fee and you could have the document between 7 days to 3 months after the marriage registration. Tedious yes, but this is one of the most important things to do before marriage.
2. Marriage laws are different according to religion
As a married couple, your marriage has to be legalized under the existing laws in our country and here your religion becomes an important factor. The marriage laws are different for people belonging to different religions and communities.
Here it would help to check with a lawyer beforehand about the laws or read up the various laws provided for interfaith or inter-community marriage for newly married couples in the constitution. You will have to do some heavy research as one of the things to do before marriage.
If both partners are Hindu then the marriage will be enrolled under the Hindu Marriage Act 1950. If you are having an inter-faith marriage and one partner is a Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Jewish or Parsi then the marriage should be enrolled under the Special Marriage Act 1954.
Under the Hindu Marriage Act, both the husband and wife need to apply to the sub-registrar under whose ward the marriage was sanctified, or to the register centre under whose purview either life partner has lived for something like a half year. They have to produce an affidavit stating place and date of marriage, marital status at the time of marriage, date of birth of both partners and nationalities of both.
3. Decide on your name change
This is one of the things couples should talk about before marriage. While it is not at all necessary to go for a name change after marriage, but if you wish to go for a name change, then you have to apply for a name or surname change at the workplace of the state government gazette. You will also have the name change by making it official by publishing the details in local newspapers.
Optionally you can go for a Joint Notarized Affidavit from an open legal official as one of the things to do before marriage. This will aid your name change in important documents like PAN Card, Aadhaar Card, bank records etc. While usually women tend to change their surname after marriage, these days many Indian newly married couples are keeping their original names and surnames after marriage too.
Related Reading: Prenuptial Agreement- How It Can Protect Your Future
4. Discuss your partner’s past
One of the things to do before you get married is clearing out pasts so you can be on the same page. Remember in India marriage is not just the union of two people but also of their families which would also include previous debts, assets, children from a previous marriage among other things. Take the time to find out your partner’s family relationship and also whether they have had a previous marriage or children.
Try and have as many less secrets in your newly married couple romance after marriage so that you can enjoy a long and fruitful happy marriage. Honesty is definitely on the happy marriage checklist. These factors become important as you look to legalize you marriage as a new couple, so ensure to have a discussion beforehand.
5. Things to look into in case of a second marriage
If there has been a one-time settlement after a divorce or if your partner is paying a regular alimony. If yes, how much it is and how much will be left from his earning to run the show when he is married to you. It is also important to know what kind of custody your partner has about the children and what is expected from you as a new parent.
Related Reading: Divorce And Children – 8 Deep-Seated Impacts of Separation Parents Must Know
Find out the kind of relationship your partner maintains with the ex partner. Is it just cordial or is it that they are still in the joint decision making stage? These are the type of important things to know and determine before marriage.
6. Discuss each other’s finances
One of the things to do before getting married is having the discussion about money. This does not mean you have a loveless marriage but that you are a pragmatic couple. This is something that people usually don’t do in love marriages but this is the most important thing to be discussed. Before your marriage, do discuss important aspects like property, finances and immediate family of your partner. While talking finance specifically, do remember to discuss everything from credit cards, bank accounts, retirement plan to pre-existing loans or debt and your partner’s spending habits.
This would also give a fair idea if your partner is financially sound and what you need to do in case everything is not up to the mark. Discuss debts (if any), existing loans and assets with your partner. This is important as debts and assets you incur may become marital property after your marriage and would be split during a divorce. These include wages, interest earned on investments and home. Work out a proper saving and investment plan with your partner and start a joint account to have more transparency in a husband and wife relationship.
Also have a contingency plan worked out for emergencies and opt for a health insurance to cover both of you and shockproof your happy marriage against future medical emergencies.
FAQs
Rush into it and decide to figure out the nitty grittys later. You must plan a marriage properly.
Understand the union of the families, decide on where to live, changing of names, sign a prenup and discuss past histories.
She should know her fiances past, decide if she wants to change her name or not and talk about division of assets.
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