How do we financially protect a stay-at-home spouse who has no income?

A non-earning spouse still has enormous economic value and specific risks to cover. First, carry adequate life insurance on the stay-at-home partner too, since replacing childcare and household work has real cost. Second, keep retirement savings in their name: the IRS permits a spousal IRA funded from the working spouse's income, so both build independent retirement assets. Third, keep at least one credit card in the non-earning spouse's own name to preserve their credit history. Fourth, ensure both spouses have access to accounts, know where documents are, and are named on beneficiary and estate paperwork. Disability insurance on the earner matters greatly here because the family runs on a single income. These steps guard against divorce, death, and disability alike.