This is the day you’ve been waiting for your whole life. You’ve finally found The One, your soulmate, the person you want to have kids with and grow old together. Congratulations!

We’re not trying to rain on your parade or spoil the moment for you, but how well do you know this special someone? How long have you been together? How much do you know about their past? Wouldn’t it be wiser to agree to both have a background check before tying the knot?

This may sound a bit strange, but the truth is you cannot be sure your partner is who you think he is. Unless you met in kindergarten and you grew up together, you just don’t know who your future spouse is.

Would a psycho tell you the truth?

This is the stuff you usually see in movies. Woman marries a charming and successful doctor only to discover months later he’s a controlling and totally mental ex-con who’s only after her money. Maybe you saw this series on TV, but maybe you didn’t pay attention to the words they showed right after the title: ‘Based on a true story’.

Or check out this story about an Australian woman who was fooled into marrying a shameless gold-digger.

My partner is not like that, you mumble to yourself. Hopefully he’s not and we wish you all the best, but how can you be sure?

Do you know what he was doing five years ago? He may have been in prison for all you know?

Have you considered identity fraud?

Getting yourself a fake ID is not as hard as you may imagine, especially for someone who served some time behind bard and made all sorts of friends. A consummate fraudster would have every reason in the world to change his or her identity and start all over again, with a fresh victim.

Why would you be that clueless victim when it’s so easy to do a simple background check on your partner?

How can you get a quick background?

Some people get a full physical exam before getting married, just to be sure they’re both free of STD or any other sort of disease. Seems like the rational thing to do.

Others sign a prenup just to make sure they’re financially protected. Why would a background check be any different?

It would be rude to ask your partner to submit to a national police check. You can do so through services like the ANCC – australiannationalcharactercheck.com.au or simply walk into a local Australia post office. The right thing to do is for you both to submit to one. You’re both responsible adults and you can talk things through.

The best part is that getting a background check in Australia is as easy as ordering a pizza. All you need is a mobile phone to access the services of an online background check agency. You’ll have to enter your identity information and upload a picture of yourself. It only takes a couple of minutes and you’re done. The results will be sent back to you via email in 2-3 days.

Chances are it will turn out none of you has a criminal record and you’ll have a good laugh over it, and that’s how it should be. However, you should never discount the possibility that your partner has something to hide. Just ask yourself: What if…?