Marriage can be a beautiful, romantic thing.

But all the paperwork that comes with it?

That’s less fun.

It’s tough to keep track of all the legal stuff you have to do when you get married.

Decide How You’ll File Taxes

Decide whether to file them jointly or separately.

If you file jointly, you’ll combine both your incomes on your taxes.

Obviously, filing separately means you’ll keep them separate.

A marriage bonus happens when combining your incomes means you pay less in taxes.

Most couples fall under the “marriage bonus” category.

Buthere’s a calculatorto see how your situation stacks up.

Same-sex marriages

For same-sex couples, the tax laws might vary depending on your state.

Federally, your taxes will be affected the same way opposite-sex spouses are.

We’ve written about that in more detailhere.

A lot of it depends on where you live, but there are some general rules.

In most places, you’re not responsible for any debt your spouse’s incurred before you were married.

Your past credit histories remain separate, and you don’t share a credit score once you get married.

Of course, your spouse could also be entitled to your assets if you get divorced.

Because of this, some couples opt for a prenuptial agreement.

This decision is a personal one.

We havesome guidelines for getting started.

That means you’ll have tofind and pickone.

Many couples ask a friend to become ordained so they can officiate the ceremony for them.

The Knot offers somesuggestions and detailson how to go about this.

Your county clerk or registrar’s website should tell you exactly where to go and what to bring.

You may need to call for an appointment.

According to FindLaw.com, it usually only takes a few days toget your license.

In most states, it will expire.

So, obviously, ensure you have the ceremony while your license is valid.

Once you’ve officially tied the knot, you’ll want to get your certificate.

To do this, your officiant will send the signed license to the appropriate county office.

Again, this info can probably be found on your county registrar’s website.

To get a copy of your certificate, fill out a form and pay a small fee.

A few states actually require a blood test to get a marriage license.

According to Nolo, those places are: Mississippi, Montana, New York and D.C.

The rules are different in each of those areas, so check outtheir chartfor details.

For same-sex marriages, the laws still vary.

Marriage Laws is a good resource forbreaking it all down by state.

choose your state, then scroll down to find their rules for same-sex marriages.

Changing it with Social Security is your top priority.

Get a New Social Security Card

you might’t apply for a new social security card online.

Fill out and print yourapplication for a social security card.

Take or mail the program to your localSocial Security office.

The SSA hasmore detail here.

Just don’t sign them until you’re in front of a DMV employee.

Passport: The government offers some basic instructionshere.

Some banks have name change forms you could just send in.

Post office: According toeHow, you’re free to do this online via USPS’sChange of Addressform.

Utilities: revamp your info online or give them a call.

They’ll want to see a copy of your social security card,according to The Nest.

And speaking of work benefits, lets discuss how those will work now that you’re married.

Compare prices and choose the one that’s best for you.

Once you make a decision, update the plan with your employer.

You might also get a better rate if you combine car and life insurance policies as a married couple.

Call and see what your options are.

The insurance companies will probably want a copy of your marriage certificate.

Add a Beneficiary & Create a Will

It’s a little depressing to think about, sure.

But it’s important toprepare for the inevitable.

It’s just the responsible thing to do.

This means, in case something happens to you, your spouse will inherit your assets.

We’ve created a thorough guide onhow to preparethese documents.

Of course, you don’thaveto designate your spouse as the beneficiary in your will or with your accounts.

you might always choose someone else.

Either way, you should get all this stuff in order.

you could add money from your salary into your account, but other people cannot.

Even though you are married, you cannot invest more per year.

The contribution limit is the same for both married and single workers.

You’ll just have to figure out how to budget for that, accordingly.

Individual Retirement Accounts, or IRAs, can’t be held jointly, either.

It doesn’t matter which spouse earned the income.

Another thing to consider is your asset allocation.

Depending on how you decide to save for your retirement, you should diversify your assets accordingly.

One spouse’s plan might have better stock options than the other.

It seems like there’s a big, legal to-do list that comes with marriage.

Most of us just figure it out as we go.

But knowing in advance what to expect can help streamline the whole process a little easier.