You’ve found someone you want to live with, but marriage isn’t in the cards right now. Before you move in together, it’s a good idea to think through the legal implications of sharing a life and a home. A little bit of communication about your expectations can go a long way toward avoiding future problems.

Ground Rules
When you’re not married, you don’t have many of the legal protections given to those with a marriage certificate. Until the relationship is firmly established and you have a long history of stability, you’ll probably want to:

• Keep separate bank accounts
• Avoid contributing financially to buy an asset which will be held just in your partner’s name
• Maintain your ability to support yourself separate and apart from any promises of support made to you by your partner
• Avoid making promises to support your partner, either now or in the future
• Take care not to present yourself as “husband and wife” or adopt the same last name of your partner as if you were married