Relationship expert says secret to success is asking your partner this one question early on

An expert has shared the one question you should ask your partner when embarking on a new relationship.

When it comes to a new relationship, there are as many new bits of advice as there are people in the world.

Some people might think that your star signs have to align, and if not, then that's bound to spell trouble for the union in the future.

Others might believe in shared interests, or indeed not having so much in common because otherwise they'd just be dating themselves.

Or perhaps you're someone who thinks that shared views, or at least shared values, are crucial for a successful relationship. Of course, there's more practical considerations such as where you'd want to live, or if you want to have children.

But one bit of advice contradicts all of these - so what is it?

Asking this question can prevent resentment building (Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty)

Well, it's one single question which relationship expert Brian Page, who's been married for 23 years, swears by.

Page claims this could help you to determine whether a future partnership is worth pursuing, or if it's time to see who else may be out there.

It's a very simple question: “Can you describe the partner you always dreamed of having?”

There are a variety of reasons why this question could be really helpful when setting out with someone new.

Firstly, Page argues, it makes sure that your expectations from a relationship are clear.

Mismatched expectations, such as marriage or children for example, can easily throw a spanner in the works of a relationship.

The question also recognises that marriage has now changed, with both partners in the US taking on a job rather than just one.

Of course, despite that, women still tend to be lumped with more of the household tasks in a lot of relationships.

Communication is key (Tom Werner/Getty)

The question also acts as a way to stop resentment from building up.

Resentment can be relationship kryptonite - things might seem okay on the surface but it bubbles away underneath before suddenly erupting.

Making sure your expectations are clear helps to stop things reaching that critical point.

You can also make sure that what you both want in the long term matches up as well.

This might be career goals, financial goals, or family goals, as well as helpful you to figure out how to support each other.

Finally, asking this question ensures that the relationship can continue to evolve rather than stagnating.

People's needs change over time, and ensuring that you're always communicating is crucial.