Starting Your New Year Marriage Off Right

If your new year has started off with a new marriage you'll want to be sure everything is in order. All paper work and contracts as well as any records will need name changes, personal changes, and information updated to provide protection for both spouses.

Start by requesting certified copies of your marriage certificate from your county courthouse or city hall. You will need these for name changes and record updates and will need to present the certified copies. It is considered a legal and binding document and is the only way names can be changed or contracts updated.

Update your social security card with your new name and all payroll records. You need to match your payroll name for to your banking I.D. name so any and all checks or direct deposits can be entered and cashed without a problem.

Change your drivers license through DMV to update your marriage status and name change if you choose to change your name. You will need to make a complete change unless documents such as American Indian affiliation or certain school records and degrees allow otherwise.

At the same time change your name or add names to your credit cards. If you must show I.D. for some reason when using a credit card it must match the name on the picture I.D. or you will not be authorized to complete a purchase. This can happen when there is a power outage and the charge must be done manually or the credit card company is confirming I.D. while you are traveling. It is for your own financial credit protection.

Change names or add names to car insurance, car registrations, and update your coverage for any all new drivers. If you have teenage drivers in the family your insurance policy will change and all records must be updated in order to protect you and your family in case of an accident no matter whose fault it is.

Update life insurance records according to name change, name addition and any beneficiaries. When a person marries it will change the beneficiaries of life insurance coverage and could even lower the rate. At this time add names and review coverage of medical insurance to cover everyone in the family and any new dependents.

Update address changes for all mail delivery, magazine subscriptions and medical bills. You will need to update all signature cards at your bank in order for the account and new checks to be used by other authorized persons. You can choose to keep banking records separate, but you should have at least one shared account for bills and family use.

Finally run credit reports from all three bureaus for husband and wife and if there are any credit problems work on clearing them up right away. You both need to have a good credit history in order to move on to a good life and provide for your future.