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When you are in a relationship and everything is going great, it is easy to get swept up in a whirlwind of romance. Before too long, you may find yourself planning a wedding as you and your partner take your relationship to the next level. However, before you book the church and buy the rings, there are a few essential discussions that couples should have before getting married. If you or your partner have children and houses of your own, there are some extra considerations that you will need to discuss before tying the knot.
Children
The subject of children is vital to discuss before marriage. If one partner would like to have kids and the other doesn’t, it can become a severe source of contention in the relationship. As well as talking about the prospect of having children, it also crucial to discuss when you would like to have them. If one partner wants to start a family soon after marriage but the other doesn’t, this can cause resentment in the relationship.
Suppose either partner already has children from a previous relationship. In that case, it is vital to discuss living arrangements and how you will ensure that the kids have stability within the new family unit. You will also need to decide whether you would like to have children together and how this will impact your blended family.
Finances
Money is a common cause of arguments in relationships and an even more significant source of issues when it comes to divorce. To protect your finances before you are married, you may want to consult family law attorneys to discuss drawing up a pre-nuptial agreement before you get married. The prenup would help protect the assets that you bring to the marriage and ensure that you will not lose these assets if you and your partner were to divorce. While no one wants to consider the prospect of divorce when planning a wedding, it is still best to safeguard yourself and your finances for the future.
Home
Deciding where you will live with your partner is a big decision to make, especially if you each already have your own homes. You could choose to move into one of your existing homes and sell the other one, or both sell and pool your funds to buy a new marital home together. Considering which option that you will choose before you get married is a vital subject to discuss as any disagreements about where to live could lead to a lot of tension. Each of you needs to feel happy with your choice of home; otherwise, this can be a cause of a lot of resentment within your relationship.
Discussing potential issues before your wedding is the best way to get your marriage off to a positive start. It is far better to iron out any potential problems before you commit to getting married so that you can enjoy life as a newlywed without worrying about difficult conversations in the future.
