| 2 years ago :: Apr 15, 2011 - 3:48PM #1 | |
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Good day everyone. Forgive me if this question has been asked. I didnt see anything related on the first page of the forum.
My questions is: I'm 35 years old. My fiance is 34. I was proposed to on February 19th of this year and we/I want a wedding but can afford it yet but plan to save to have it next year June. We are thinking about getting married at the court house in June of this year and have the ceremony next year. When we get married this year, besides the obvious name change, change of benefits at work, and Im aware of and can look up IRS tax laws but what other things should I prepare myself for? He has kids but I dont and we may have one together. He's paying child support. I make more than him. Should I be expecting to pay for his child support? What rights does he have to me and I to him? He has been married before and I have not so I dont want to go into this blind sided. We love each other, respect each other etc but because he's been married before and I haven't I want to make sure he doesnt have the advantage over me because I lack specific details. Where can I learn specific information before June of this year? PLEASE HELP! Thanks |
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| 2 years ago :: Apr 16, 2011 - 3:29AM #2 | |
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All these questions are for the two of you to decide. There is not a single standard for every couple. You might want to find out if some local churches provide some kind of pre-marital counseling. My husband and I pool our money and always have. In a sense, yes, you will be paying child support because you as a couple will not have access to the money that goes to child support. You need to figure out what will happen when his kids are acting up--do you have any disciplinary rights that he will back up, or is it entirely up to him? What side of the bed will you sleep on? Who will balance the checkbook and who will take out the garbage? Who will clean the toilets and who will dust? Who will change the oil and who will mow the lawn? Who will cook and who will clear the table? Nobody here can answer those questions for you--and they may change over time. When we first got married almost 33 years ago, we decided that we would alternate doing the dishes every other week. Well, I was doing all the cooking at that time, and then the dishes every other week. It didn't take too long for the rules to change to "who cooks doesn't have to clean up."
Congratulations and enjoy! If you do it right, it keeps getting better all the time--with the occasional rough patch that can be survived.
I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize what you heard was not what I meant...
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| 2 years ago :: Apr 16, 2011 - 3:35AM #3 | |
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BTW, I think it is tacky to get married at the JP and then have a big "wedding" later. Why not have a first anniversary celebration or something instead? My sister in law made my wedding dress, I made my veil from a bent coat hanger, and the wedding dance cost $50 dollars in 1978--25 for the usual Saturday evening band to show up 1 hour earlier at the Moose and 25 for a keg of beer. The women of both families made potato salad, cole slaw and ham sandwiches the day before. My son got married in his wife's parents back yard and his brother in law did the cooking and his aunts in law made cakes for about 50 people. My daughter got married in the gazebo of a B&B with about 30 people and we made pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans, potato salad and cole slaw. Both were beautiful, fun and inexpensive.
I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize what you heard was not what I meant...
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| 2 years ago :: Apr 16, 2011 - 3:32PM #4 | |
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Serene- you wrote: I want to make sure he doesn't have the advantage over me because I lack specific details. Well, one thing you might want to verify is his credit history (not just the credit score). If there's any bad news in this respect-like bankruptcy, for example - it will color your credit as well. A poor credit history on his part will make obtaining credit harder after you are married-even if your credit history is stellar. Suggest taking a gander at the actual reports- not just his word that all is good in that department. RE: child support for his kids. I don't know what the laws are, but is this based upon his income level? Does that get re-calculated after you two are married and you become a two-income family? Should he lose his job, what happens if he can't pay the child support -are you expected to foot this bill? This would be my worry. And it may be unfounded- but might make sure. Irene
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