Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis says couples in the UK need to have a serious conversation with each other before it's too late.
According to Martin,
Speaking on ITV's the Martin Lewis Money Show, Martin explained how often one person in a household takes the lead when it comes to finances, leaving the other vulnerable.
In one case, a woman was left unable to pay the mortgage because she didn't know where their savings were kept, he explained.
Which means both partners need to sit down and talk it through, and make a list of all the household's financial information, not including any sensitive details, Northants Live reports.
Couples should then sit down and run through the list to make sure everyone understands what's what.
The finance expert told ITV viewers: "I can't tell you the number of times - it's generally women but not always - have said [to me] I've lost my husband and I do not know how to deal with finances.
"And I'll always remember one case of a woman who stopped me in the street in tears because her husband had died two months before.
"She couldn't pay the mortgage because she didn't know where the savings were.
"This is a really important point, it's what I call the three Ds - death, divorce, dementia.
"They are a risk, and so if you're the one that looks after the family finances, that's fine - but make sure there's a financial fact sheet that lists all the information and all the relevant products.
"And make sure you go to your partner, and say to them this is what will happen.
"Make sure they at least understand it in case they're not managing it."
