Please consult with an attorney in your area to discuss some estate planning here considering that you are taking title prior to marriage and you both have children.  A separate agreement would be wise.   Now, in your state you can take title in 4 ways: as tenants in common, as joint tenants with right of survivorship, as tenants by the entirety and as tenants in partnership.   You can not take title as tenants by the entirety as you are not married at the time of purchase.  As tenants in common, each of you would be able to transfer your interest during life and each can pass on your ownership interest to your heirs upon death. If you hold by joint tenancy with right of survivorship that is different in that upon the death of a co-owner the remaining joint tenant automatically gets the other person's half. Heirs do not get anything. Tenants in partnership hold real estate as a partnership, which is a separate legal entity. I do not think you want that but one never knows.  Good luck.