De facto relationships
11A De facto relationships
In forming an opinion for the purposes of this Act whether 2 people are living together in a de facto relationship, regard is to be had to all the circumstances of the relationship including, in particular, the following matters:
the financial aspects of the relationship, including:
any joint ownership of real estate or other major assets and any joint liabilities; and
any significant pooling of financial resources especially in relation to major financial commitments; and
any legal obligations owed by one person in respect of the other person; and
the basis of any sharing of day‑to‑day household expenses;
the nature of the household, including:
any joint responsibility for providing care or support of children; and
the living arrangements of the people; and
the basis on which responsibility for housework is distributed;
the social aspects of the relationship, including:
whether the people hold themselves out as being in a de facto relationship with each other; and
the assessment of friends and regular associates of the people about the nature of their relationship; and
the basis on which the people make plans for, or engage in, joint social activities;
any sexual relationship between the people;
the nature of the people’s commitment to each other, including:
the length of the relationship; and
the nature of any companionship and emotional support that the people provide to each other; and
whether the people consider that the relationship is likely to continue indefinitely; and
whether the people see their relationship as a de facto relationship.
This Act’s bill:Second reading speech
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