Bilateral Consensus For some people, moving in together can be a simple next step taken in any relationship, where for others it is a pre-cursor to a marriage proposal. Make sure you are both in agreement about what it means to move in together. Whether this is a form of cultural confusion or a simple lack of communication on the infamous issue of “where you see this relationship going,” it can turn into a serious problem. This is a sure fire way to trample your partner’s feelings and romantic expectations if you are not clear from the beginning about the significance, or insignificance, of sharing housing. If you are on the same page and have talked things over, then the last major consideration to take into account before changing your address is that of the possible legal implications.
Common Law Is your partner someone who you would consider marrying? If not, then you should take a look into WHY not. While common law marriage does not exist in Canada, it is a fact of life in the US, and under the Canadian legal system a common law “relationship” does carry certain legal implications. After cohabitation has continued for 1-3 years, depending on the province, the couple are no longer separate entities, but in many ways they are a single unit. This can affect student loans, government benefits, insurance, taxes, and finances. If you are moving in with your partner as a kind of marriage test run, you need to be aware that the “test” period only lasts for 12 months before the relationship legally changes. Make sure you don’t end up in a “married” relationship by default.
It’s a good idea before moving in to talk over who likes the toothpaste squeezed from the bottom of the tube and who leaves the cap off, who hates hair in the tub and who likes the floor kept clear, who likes to eat in bed and who thinks the trash only needs to go out once a month. But legal and cultural concerns should take precedence in such a potentially important decision. Reaching mutual understanding is important when you are taking any step in a relationship, and moving in is definitely a decision worth the discussion.
