Personal finance fitness

You've decided to slap on the ol' bail and chain. Great! Just remember, the whole "Till death do you part" thing can fall apart in a Britney minute, so you better protect yourself financially, Rockefeller. Here are our tips on discussing finances before shacking up or walking down the aisle--and what to do if things torn ugly.

PRE-SHACK-UPS

Before she gets too comfy on the couch, have a sit-down to divide fiscal responsibilities. "When you start spending together, you need to talk money" says Wall Street Journal columnist Jeff D. Opdyke, author of Love and Money. Maybe she pays electric and you cover cable. But Opdyke draws the line at sharing checking accounts, credit cards, and mortgages while dating. There's nothing to stop one partner from raiding the joint checking account, he says, or going on a spending spree after finding the other in bed with the personal trainer. "No joint assets," he rules.

PRENUPS

Before she takes your name, consider getting her to sign on the dotted line. Both parties can benefit from a prenup, says Opdyke. It could even be good for your wife-to-be if, say, she's a player on Wall Street, while you're a mere haiku writer. Meanwhile, you'd want to make sure Nana's silverware stays in your family should wifey suddenly find your union irreparably tarnished. The key: "Approach this as a business decision," says Opdyke, "not a statement on the longevity of the marriage."

POSTNUPS (AND THE BIG "D")

Never got a prenup? Try "postnups," which are contracts made after you've tied the knot. And if she's already grabbed her yoga mat and split, hire a lawyer. Just make sure you keep your emotions in check. "People, in general, are greedy at heart," says Opdyke. "I've seen couples fight over salt and pepper shakers?' Better to hand over the china with a smile--that way she won't squawk as much about the plasma TV.