Marriage Money and Property
Marriage carries certain legal implications with respect to property, money and debt. Becoming legally married in the eyes of your state means your spouse's income (and debt) are now yours, as well. If one of you runs up a huge credit card bill, you both now are on the hook when the bill comes. The following resources include information about marital (or communal) property and debt; how property is treated in a divorce; how marriage affects taxes and related topics. To learn more about marital property and the legal concept of "community property," visit the "Divorce & Property" section of FindLaw's Family Law Center.
- How to Avoid Marriage Money Problems
Many married couples fight and divorce over financial problems. This article has some useful ideas to help you and your spouse avoid common financial pitfalls in the future.
- Who Owns What in Marital Property?
Once you enter into a marriage, do you share everything with your spouse? Or are some things still legally “yours?” This article explains the different types of marital property arrangements.
- Sample Financial Statement
Take a look at this sample financial statement to better review you and your partner's debts and liabilities before getting married -- a crucial step that could help you avoid conflicts later on in the marriage.
- Managing Marital Property - Do's and Don'ts
Learn how to best manage your individual property as well as your marital property in order to avoid arguments with your spouse over financial matters and protect your personal assets.
- What Happens to the Ring in a Broken Engagement?
A change of heart before a wedding can be difficult on everyone involved. On top of it all, you have to decide what happens to the ring. Read this article to find out what your legal obligations are regarding engagement rings.
- Divorce and Property
A collection of articles and other resources on how property is divided in divorce. Learn about community property law, how divorce can affect your credit, debt division, and more.