The number of couples who live together is rising. According to the Pew Research Center the share of U.S. adults who are currently married has declined modestly in recent decades, from 58% in 1995 to 53% today. Over the same period, the share of adults who are living with an unmarried partner has risen from 3% to 7%.

Deciding to move in with a partner is a big commitment, having an open, honest discussion beforehand is important so that each person has a clear understanding of how it will work. If you go into it knowing in advance what to expect it can prevent issues from arising later.

It’s a good idea to come up with a list of questions to ask one another before making the move.

Signing a Lease

A lease is a legal agreement made between the landlord and the renter. If you break a lease it can lead to legal and financial difficulties. If the relationship does not work out, you want to be sure everything is decided beforehand, in writing on how you will handle the remainder of the lease. Meeting with an attorney for advice is a good idea.

How Will Bills Be Handled

Decide how monthly expenses will be handled. Will you split the cost of everything evenly or will each person be responsible for certain bills? Will you have a joint checking account for household expenses? How will groceries and household items be paid for?

Financial Beliefs

Financial philosophies are a major part of any relationship and having a similar view on debt, savings and how to handle money is important. Have an open discussion about the debt each of you will bring into the relationship. Discuss your beliefs on paying off debt and incurring future debt. What are your views on spending and saving money?

Household Responsibilities

Every home comes responsibilities, having a general idea ahead of time on who will be responsible for what will prevent misunderstandings and disagreements down the road. Will one person do the laundry, or will each be responsible for their own? How will meal preparations and cleanups work? How will cleaning and tidying be handled? Not every detail must be spelled out, but you should come to a general understanding.

Entertainment & Socializing

If one person likes a quiet private home and is more of an introvert and the other likes to entertain and have people over regularly that might be a problem. How do you feel about visits from friends and family? What is your stance on alcohol, and how will it be managed in a shared home? Do you travel frequently? Do you enjoy regular outings and if so, what do those outings look like? Couples should be compatible when it comes to entertainment and socializing.

Routines & Preferences

Until you live with someone you might not know their daily routine, are they a morning or night person? Is a schedule important to them? Are they always on time or always running late? Does their job require travel? These are important things to consider before making the move. You should also talk about personal preferences that are important to you. Some people may not have a problem with a sink full of dirty dishes or dirty clothes tossed on the floor but if you are a neat, orderly person those things might really bother you. What are your pet peeves? Are your sleeping habits compatible? How much personal time do you need? Talk about work times, mealtimes, time spend together and apart, hobbies and activities, and how you will handle holidays and family events.

How Will You Handle Conflict

This is a big one. Hopefully you already know your partner well enough that you have navigated disagreements and conflicts in a healthy way but be sure you are on the same page. Determine a method for resolving conflicts, like regular check-ins or setting aside time to talk. This can prevent little conflicts from becoming bigger issues.

What Are Your Deal Breakers

We all have things that are deal breakers, give this a lot of thought and openly discuss it. Infidelity, verbal or emotional abuse, financial irresponsibility, smoking and drinking, dishonestly and other big issues should be discussed before moving in together.

Shared Beliefs & Future Expectations

It is important to discuss core principles and views such as religion, family, politics, cultural values and beliefs and moral ethics as well as your vision for the future when it comes to marriage and children, parenting philosophies, career goals, views on health and wellness, and views on retirement and long-term financial planning.

If the Relationship Ends

This is never pleasant to talk about, but it’s an important conversation to have. If the relationship ends how will the lease be handled? what about joint bank accounts? if you have children or pets how will that work? How will you split joint purchases?

Married couples have legal rights that unmarried couples don’t. Consider a cohabitation agreement, it is a legal contract between unmarried partners, outlining the management of financial responsibilities and property division in the event of separation or death. It is similar to a prenuptial agreement. It can protect both parties that share assets, children, or financial obligations.