The term “de facto relationship” is defined in the Property (Relationships) Act 1984, a copy of which can be reviewed here.
In determining whether two persons are in a defacto relationship, the court will take into account all of the circumstances of the relationship.
The definition of what constitutes a defacto relationship has been widened to cover most relationships between two adults (over the age of 18) who:
- live together as a couple
- not married
- not siblings or a parent or child of each other
- same-sex couples are now covered by this law.
