It may not be romantic, but getting a clear picture of your partner's financial situation can help you avoid some money-related surprises down the road.
Does your partner have a lot of student loan debt? Do they have dozens of unpaid credit card bills? How far along are they in paying off their mortgage or car loan?
Even if they seem to have their finances together, debt is fairly common and is worth discussing.
In most cases, you are not liable for debt your partner has accrued before your marriage. But as Yahoo Finance pointed out, any debt you create on joint accounts after you tie the knot will be both partners' legal responsibility.
If you and your partner are looking to make any major purchases or investments as a married couple, pre-existing debt could limit your financial flexibility.