Life Events-Marriage Document

Marriage

So, you're getting married? Congratulations! However, take note: entering the married state has legal and financial implications for your health and pension benefits. It is important to review and address these benefit plan issues early on. We present here a summary of the Health and Pension issues you need to understand to get a good start in your new life (so that you can get back to more important things, like fighting with the caterer).

Forms:

Additional Information:

Health & Welfare SPD

Pension SPD

Planning Notes:

Financial planners recommend that recently married and those planning to get married should update a number of personal plans and documents. Here is a checklist of some items which you may need to update, revise, or consider:

Benefit Plan Checklist
	You must complete a new Enrollment form and include a copy of your marriage certificate. This must be done within 30 days of the marriage in order to ensure Health & Welfare coverage for your new spouse.
	You should review your designations of beneficiary for both Pension Plans and the Health Plan. For the Pension Plans, your spouse automatically becomes your beneficiary when you get married. For the Health Plan's life insurance benefit, you need to explicitly change your beneficiary. For the Health Plan, this is done on the Enrollment Card.
	Review the rules for coordination of benefits. Coordination of benefits rules govern how each plan will pay for health care claims if each spouse has group health insurance.
	Review the rules for pre-retirement death benefits under the Pension Plan. You should be aware that the rules for married persons are different from those for single persons. When you get married, your spouse gains certain rights with regard to these benefits.

External Related Links:
(These are listed for your convenience. The sites and the contents of the sites are not sponsored or endorsed by your benefit plans. Use them at your own risk.)

Nolo Marriage - -Good FAQ list dealing with many of the surrounding legal issues, procedures, & processes about marriage. Topics include records, change of name, marriage license, etc.
4marriage.com - - Variety of resources. This website offers advice on every stage of the relationship from how to strengthen the relationship and how to court to buying a home and starting a family. There is even a "marriage toolbox." Also included are links to other related 4anything.com sites.
couples-place.com - -Quizzes, articles, e-mail courses, stories, and forums about marriage. Site created by a psychotherapist in private practice.
Marriage at About.com - - Useful links, and weekly feature articles on making your marriage the best it can be. Chat room and bulletin board also onsite. From About.com.
bridalplanner.com - -Thorough website offers a lot of great free information to help plan the perfect wedding. Complete with its own online store there is also a list of useful worksheets, tips on good planning books, stories, and forums. Great tips for photography, cakes, showers, and more.