'Mellody's Mail': Starting Out Right

Overall, it is important to have a complete picture of your combined finances, while keeping somewhat separate identities in order to continue to build your own credit histories in the event of an unforeseen event.

Finally, it is critical to appropriately plan for the unexpected by updating your insurance policies and writing a will to reflect your new status as a family, especially since you have a dependent.

E-mail Mellody with your personal finance questions.

Mellody Hobson, president of Ariel Capital Management (arielmutualfunds.com) in Chicago, is Good Morning America's personal finance expert. Ariel associates Matthew Yale and Aimee Daley contributed to this report.