It is very common for married couples to merge their finances, but J.D. Roth of Time magazine argues that this may be a recipe for relationship disaster as financial conflicts can lead to major problems such as divorce.

“If you and your spouse are happier with joint finances and if it strengthens your marriage, then use joint finances,” Roth, who has separate finances from his wife, writes. “But don’t combine finances just because you think it has to be done that way. It doesn’t.”

According to New York Life, when a marriage goes down the path to divorce, financial disaster can occur regardless of the couple’s money situation. The emotional pain of divorce and the financial impact is also closely linked. After a divorce, the company suggests that ex-spouses revise their wills, become disentangled financially and review all of their other assets.

When it comes to post-marriage finances, it is bad form to discuss child support with the child, says the Seattle Times. The terms of this complicated financial situation regarding a noncustodial parent should only be discussed parent-to-parent, even when children inquire about the money or ask for items that are supposedly covered by these payments.

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