A de facto relationship is defined in Section 4AA of the Family Law Act 1975. The law requires that you and your former partner, who may be of the same or opposite sex, had a relationship as a couple living together on a genuine domestic basis.
The Family Court Act 1997 sets out how de facto property matters are dealt with in Western Australia.
The Family Court of Western Australia, the Family Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia deal with issues related to the children of parents in a de facto relationships in the same way as the children of married couples.
Lavan’s team of Family Lawyers in Perth can advise on steps to take before or during a de facto relationship to prevent later arguments in the event the de facto relationship breaks down. We are also involved in assisting parties who, following the breakdown of a de facto relationship, must resort to proceedings in the Family Court of Western Australia.
Recent legislative changes to the Family Law Act enable parties in a de facto relationship (including same sex couples) to access an equivalent range of remedies in the Family Court with regard to financial matters to those presently available to married couples.
