by Victoria Tiegert

Created on: May 28, 2009

Divorce statistics today are overwhelmingly high, and seem to be going nowhere but up. One of the leading causes of divorce in the western world today is financial stress. Because of this, a wise person will always make finances a consideration as they make the decision regarding a marriage partner. It is important that you do this, regardless of how many stars are in your eyes or flutters in your heart. A marriage will never survive on those things alone.

When you are at the point in a relationship that it appears a marriage may be on the horizon, sit down with your partner and explain your deisre to discuss each of your finances. Set up a time to meet, debts and incomes in hand, to see where you both stand and where you would be standing together. There is more to this than gold-digging, by far, and if a person wants to call it anything but good common sense, you may want to reconsider your selection. They may be getting defensive and that is a bad sign.

If you see an incredibly heavy debt load that makes the income column pale in comparison, that is going to be something that will have to be worked through to get paid off. Are you willing to do this with him or her? Remember, this will become shared debt if you enter a marriage. Consider where the debt came from. While debt that came from college loans was acquired for something profitable in the person's future, credit card debt in excess may be a sign that this person is irresponsible and impatient.

If you see bills that are from collection agencies or attorneys, pay careful attention and ask questions. Why are they there? Why weren't they paid in a timely manner to avoid this? Maybe the debt is being disputed, but if not, you are looking at someone who simply didn't pay their bills. That can show a basic lack of character and responsibility. Of course, there are some circumstances that come up, such as an unexpected job loss or extended illness that can offer some form of explanation.

Taking a look at each of your credit reports and scores is one of the best measurements of financial responsibility. These hold a treasure trove of information that can disclose many aspects of a person's financial status. They can be easily obtained online and in the United States, everyone is entitled to receive one copy per year, free of charge.

Ask to see bank records for both checking and more importantly, savings accounts. Does the person have an investment portfolio? How about retirement? Even if it seems a long ways off, most of us will get there eventually and you should make sure that you are going to have the means to live comfortably when it does.

Finances are very important when considering marriage. The stress of new marriage grows considerably when it is coupled with financial instability. If you want to have a happy, healthy marriage of endurance, the first step is to choose your spouse well and with an informed mind. A person's finances tell you more about them than just how much money they have. Responsibility, planning for the future, and the ability to wait for the things you want until you can pay for them are all things that will be revealed. These qualities are important in a husband or wife.

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