<prompt> Human: Fiance is a resident physician planning on fellowship afterwards. She will be making 55-70 per year for the next 4 years.Her student loans are massive 450,000. We have signed her up for an income driven repayment plan IDR entitled REPAYE which essentially makes her pay a max of 10 of her discretionary income. Her monthly repayment is about 300 per month. We also have her signed up for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. After 10 years of these income-drive repayments 120 months while working for a non-profit entity most hospitals, the remaining balance of her loans and interest are forgiven tax-free. We are locked into this plan and have already made a years worth of repayments. Both political parties want to repeal this PSLF plan in some capacity, but current borrowers individuals signed up for this forgiveness plan will be granted the forgiveness as stated. Further, most legal experts state that the federal government will have to honor the plan for those already enrolled, less a massive class-action lawsuit will be filed against the federal government.Under the repayment plan, however; when she and I get married, regardless of filing status, my income is counted in the repayment calculation. We would then be repaying 1,300 a month instead of the 300. Could I tighten the purse strings and afford this, of course, but Id rather not if all of the interest and remaining principal is going to be forgiven tax free at the end of these 10 years anyway. Not to mention that extra 1,000 a month is still a drop in the bucket compared to the principal. The extra 1,000 a month would be much much better served saving and investing than paying back to no end.So, Im proposing we simply dont get married on paper to avoid this. Thoughts?  <response>: If you dont want to get married for financial reasons - but otherwise would want to get married - then there are things you want to attend to in order to get many of the same rights that married couples automatically get.Wills will be essential to ensure the other partner gets your estate if you die, since most states have intestate laws that have the married partner inherit automatically if their spouse dies. Wills can give you similar protection. And, of course, having the other as the named beneficiary on all accounts that you can name someone is always helpful, no matter if you are married or not.A living will, or advanced healthcare directive, naming each other as your healthcare proxy will be essential so that your partner can make the medical decisions for you if you are incapacitated or vice versa. Otherwise, it generally reverts to next of kin and you would have no say. Make sure this filed with each others normal doctor if possible and keep one accessible in the event of an emergency.Im sure there are other legal matters to attend to as well. Perhaps rlegaladvice would know. 