It is obvious that when you marry and it’s the real thing, you marry everything about that other person, including the financial status and history and credit score. Your assets and debts become the other person’s assets and debts, and vice versa. That’s why those vows read, “For richer or for poorer or for in poverty or for in riches. You sure do want to consider that poverty part. A shiny car to date in is not the cure all to avoid poverty and in fact may be a sign you will be headed that way. So, before you leap, look at the financial realities of the other person.

You are entitled to know everything and you are also entitled to walk away from anyone who would rather keep it all a secret from you. On the other hand, a person that is open with you about the trouble they have been through and open about what they have done to fix the problem and open about their desire to get more stable before moving forward, not that person may prove to be a real gem. Anyone can make a mistake in investing.

Anyone can lose a job and have a tough time finding another one. The real question is whether or not the person has a pattern of irresponsibility and no plan to build character or fix the debt. At a minimum, when you find the right person you and that person need to be sure you have the right financial plan before moving forward.