Here is a list of legal matters you should attend to as soon after the wedding as possible – it’s not only the newly-wedded bliss, but also the peace of mind that counts.
1. Return any rented items – most of the time this means the groomsmen’s suits, but could also be décor or wedding car. If you are leaving for your honeymoon immediately after the reception, you should appoint a reliable person who will return these items on your behalf by the deadline, or you will lose your deposits and possibly have the suppliers chase you for returns.
2. Change your name – make a list of all the places where the name change will apply (banks, insurance companies, driver’s licence, passports, loans, investments, medical and educational records, etc.) and do the paperwork as soon as possible. In Ireland it’s not necessary to change your name by Deed Poll if you’re traditionally taking on your husband’s name, but all of the above places may require you to send in a copy of your marriage certificate, sometimes an original.
3. Update addresses – if you have moved you should update your address at all of the above institutions while notifying them of your name change.
4. Update or take out insurance policies – if you hold any insurance policies separately, for example for your property, car or life, be sure to consolidate them so you can act on each other’s behalf in case you need to make a claim. You should also update the beneficiary to be your spouse.
5. Insure valuable wedding gifts – if you’ve been given pricey items like jewellery, electronics or even art, you should insure them under your home contents policy for peace of mind.
6. Update or write new wills – if you’ve not had a will before marriage you may now want to write one, especially if your children are involved, or children from previous relationships. Seek legal advice on how to best proceed to protect your assets in case of your passing.
7. Decide how to file taxes – decide if you would like to file a joint tax assessment form, or an individual one. This depends entirely on your circumstances and will be different for every couple according to their earnings. Go to http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/leaflets/it2.html to find out more.
Taking care of all of the above things early on will ensure a smart start to your married life – a small time investment will pay off with a peace of mind for years to come.
