The Consequences of Marriage: Understanding Your Financial Future

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How Marriage Affects Your Assets, Debts and Estate

Marriage is a personal commitment with important financial and legal consequences. Understanding how your chosen marital property system works can help you and your partner make informed decisions about your future.

The three arrangements discussed in our guide are:

  • In community of property: Spouses share a joint estate, with implications for assets, debts and certain financial decisions.
  • Out of community of property without accrual: Each spouse maintains a separate estate, as provided for in an antenuptial contract.
  • Out of community of property with accrual: Spouses maintain separate estates during the marriage, while qualifying growth is considered when the marriage ends.

The guide also explains antenuptial contracts, commencement values and the treatment of certain excluded assets when calculating accrual.

Discussing these arrangements before marriage helps clarify expectations and identify the approach suited to your circumstances.

Download the full guide for a more detailed explanation of marital property systems and antenuptial contracts.

Download the Full Guide (PDF)

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