Seems like we're hearing about a lot of people lately remarrying after a failed first marriage or the death of a spouse.

We're happy for these people, who have been through some very difficult times -- sometimes both emotionally and financially.

But we'd be happier if we knew, for sure, that they were dealing with the financial issues that accompany a second marriage. Often those are double the financial issues of a first marriage.

Both spouses in a second marriage have a lot of excess emotional baggage. Money, for example, can be a particular taboo subject to a spouse whose bank account was cleaned out by his or her "ex." It also can be a source of insecurity to a spouse who was left with little children to raise while working in a low-paying job.

Couples in second marriages often find themselves dealing with two families. That means a couple of estates to look after. Who is going to get what when one spouse dies? What about the children from previous marriages?

Second marriages are particularly ripe for prenuptial agreements, which are designed to override state marital laws. In fact, they're important to discuss if there are children from a previous marriage, an imbalance of assets between spouses or a business owned by one or both spouses. Possible alternative to a prenuptial agreement: A fat life insurance policy.

Expect psychological issues if the remarried couple is living in a spouse's old home. Memories can haunt.

If you are in a second marriage or getting ready to enter one, here, according to the National Endowment for Financial Education, Greenwood Village, Colo., are some common financial stress points to expect:

Child support payments are no longer made to the remarried couple.

Resentment from a spouse with a child that the other spouse is giving his or her biological children more financially.

One spouse fails, perhaps due to the need to support children, to save for retirement. How will you make up this void?

By splitting expenses, the spouse with a lower income may resent that he or she is paying a greater proportion of income toward bills.

Failure to plan for a child's college education. Children's support payments often end just in time for the newly remarried couple to get nailed with college expenses. How will you both deal with this?

A divorce settlement might commit funds to an ex-spouse, creating resentment from the second spouse.

One spouse might have more children, and thus more grueling expense, than the other.

One spouse wants children and the other doesn't.

Best to discuss these hot buttons with your intended early in the relationship and take steps to nip them in the bud. Also, discuss future goals together, such as:

Do you want a second home or need to save for your children's college, or does one spouse wish to quit working?

Who will pay for past debts, what child support obligations exist and who will pay for them?

Where will you live, and whose home or homes will be sold?

Who will be beneficiaries on retirement accounts, life insurance and other assets?

What insurance policies should be added or terminated after marriage?

The issues keep piling up. So it's not a bad idea to get some professional help if you have a substantial amount of money. Even if you don't, some good advice from an accountant or financial planner can't hurt.

Tip: Whether you're newlyweds or old married couples, avoid financial secrets and lies in marriage. Thirty-six percent of men and 40 percent of women, according to Smart Money magazine, at some time in their marriages lied to a spouse about the price of a purchase.

Once you start a new marriage on an open and honest note about money, the rest of your relationship also can prosper.