11 Practical Matters To Consider Before You Get Married

Marriage is an act of free choice and personal commitment between two adults, and at the same time it is also a social institution. As such, the state has a vested interest in the success of your partnership as a basic unit of society. In the weeks and days before your wedding, or very shortly thereafter, you will have to take care of some of the following practical matters.

1. Find out how to apply for a marriage license in the city or county where the ceremony is to be held and meet whatever requirements exist there. These vary from place to place and state to state: waiting periods, blood tests, evidence of vaccinations, a general physical exam, etc. Ask your officiant about the licensing requirements, or call the county recorder clerk's office.

2. Make appointments for any medical checkups or procedures you want to have completed before marriage.

3. Change beneficiaries to include your spouse on any preexisting insurance policies such as health or life insurance or investment plans. Most people have these plans through their employer, so talk to your human resources at work to find out how your marriage will affect whatever policies and plans you have.

4. Compare the benefit and protection plans each of you holds and determine what else you may need. Contact your independent insurance agent for changes and additions on car and home-owner's insurance, as well as on any other coverage.

5. Add your spouse's name to any bank accounts, car registrations, investment accounts, or credit cards you intend to share. Be careful, though, because little words like “and” and “or” make a difference. A joint savings account for Jane Smith "and" John Smith means that both signatures are required for a transaction; "or" means either signature will do. You should understand that, if you hold bank accounts and/or credit accounts in both names, you will each have free access to those accounts and each be legally responsible for any bills incurred by the other.
Tip: It would be wise to thoroughly investigate the legal and tax ramifications, under the laws of your state, of placing any previously owned private property into joint ownership. The state does not automatically assume that a husband and wife are one entity, and sometimes, even if only in the interest of marital harmony, it makes sense to retain some "separate" property rights on significant holdings. Get professional advice for more information.

6. If you will change your name after marriage or if he will be combining his surname with yours, you each need to effect that change on driver's licenses, employment records, Social Security cards, bank accounts, credit cards, and so on. A married woman does not have to change her name at all, and failure to do so will not affect the legitimacy of children born of the marriage.In addition, in the U.S., under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), a woman is entitled, and encouraged, to maintain her own separate credit rating. Even if she has no outside employment, she can establish a personal credit rating by simply using her own name. In addition, under the ECOA, a person may not be denied a credit application or refused a loan because of marital status.

7. If you have a will, you might want to review its provisions in light of your new status with an attorney in the state in which you will be residing after marriage. Rights of survivorship vary from state to state, and a will executed in one location is not automatically upheld in another.

8. If there are any assets at all between you and any concern for the welfare and convenience of your spouse should something happen, you should each have a will. Nobody likes to think about such things, but the time to do it is now when you are both healthy and happy.

9. If either of you has been married before or is receiving alimony, keep in mind that it will stop once you are remarried. Other aspects of the divorce settlement could be affected, as well. You will need to inform your former spouse about your marriage plans, and one, or both of you may need to see an attorney.

10. If either of you owns a business or if you plan to own and operate a business together, seek legal and professional advice. There are special considerations for husbands and wives as business partners under the law.

11. Review your tax situation. Most married couples still find filing jointly to be the easiest, most advantageous method. But that may not be true for you. Note that if you do file jointly, you will each be responsible for the full total of the tax bill.

Problems Facing Today's Teen

Teen problems are growing. If you think that being a teen today is the same as it was when you were in their shoes, you are probably mistaken. Now, listen to yourself say how strict and how hard life was when you where young. But, you need to realize that teens today face huge, life threatening decisions just about ever day. What they face has a lot to do with where they grow up. Yet do not be fooled into thinking that your child is safe.In the normal course of your teen's day, he or she may face any of these things; one or more of them.

Drugs
Think that drugs are simple like they used to be? They are not. Kids today are not just smoking the easy stuff. They are into crack or other strong and deadly drugs.

Sex
Not only are they exposed to it on the television, but they are encouraged by others. They may be engaging in sexual acts that you have never heard of. They may be doing it unprotected as well. At school, after school, on the car ride home - there are many opportunities you do not realize. Teens get pregnant and have babies.

Violence
Today's teen problems often revolve around violence. They see friends with guns at school or after school. They witness huge fights. They hear threats. They see anger and deal with it daily.

Depression
With all that they see and do, teens face depression today at an alarming rate as compared to just a decade ago. Depression is not something that just goes away, but can cause them harm and threaten their lives.

Driving Teens drive drunk.
Teens drive under the influence of drugs. Teens get in cars that others are driving under the influence. Teens may also be responsible drivers, but share the road with those that are not.Teen problems that are at a lower level can be just as deadly. They face lying, cheating, emotional trauma, learning disabilities and divorce. All of these things a child will face daily in some cases. In those cases, it is no wonder that they have low self esteems, high drop out rates and some of the students will break under the pressure. Teen problems should be addressed and noticed by their parents first.

Is My Teen Lying?

All teens lie, right? Teen lying is something that is done harmlessly and viciously. Teens lie for many reasons; most of them have to do with their ability to do it. Pulling a fast one over on mom and dad is something you probably tried too. But, in today's world, lying teens can get into a whole lot more trouble than you could. That is what makes it so important to know if your teen is lying to you and then to handle it.

Teens lie that their homework is done. They lie that they are fine when they may be dealing with heavy amounts of stress. They lie because they want to do something you are saying no to. They lie and they lie. Yet, what should you do if you think that your child is doing this?

Here are some things to think about.


What makes you think they are lying? If you accuse them of lying to you, they will never fess up to it. Instead, they may try to cover it up and they may get away with it. Instead of accusing them, sit them down and talk to them about it. Really, you just need to talk about it without yelling and accusations to make the problems less important.


Teens lying may be built onto something. They may want to impress you with where they are in their lives. They may not want to disappoint you either. Make sure that you are not pumping them up so much so that they feel they have to lie to you.


The lying teen may be covering up trouble. Know your teen and recognize the symptoms of other problems. Talk with them about things like drugs, alcohol and sex. Talk with them about how to react to these situations. Spot when you think there is a problem and work it out then.


While all teens lie from time to time, those that make it a habit may be covering up something that is much bigger. It is up to you to handle this now, before the teens lying gets them into huge amounts of trouble