For better and sometimes worse, you don't get your partner without getting his family, too. Good in-laws can make married life better. There's potentially more love and support for everyone. Of course, if his family is severely dysfunctional or his parents are openly hostile to you, getting his family is a bad bargain — and one that can weaken your marriage — unless handled constructively. Navigating relations with in-laws is one of the trickiest areas of married life, requiring forethought, courage, honesty, verbal agility, and clear boundaries. It also yields great potential rewards.