De Facto Relationships

As from 1 March 2009, most Queensland de facto relationships fall under the Family Law Act 1975.  

What is a De Facto Relationship?

The Macquarie Dictionary defines De Facto Wife as “a woman who lives with a man as his wife, but is not married to him”.  The Macquarie Dictionary defines a De Facto Husband as “a man who lives with a woman as her husband, but is not married to her”. 

However, the Family Law Act has a much wider definition of “De Facto Relationships”.

• No particular finding in relation to any circumstance is necessary in deciding whether a De Facto Relationship exists;
• A Court is entitled to have regard to such matters as may seem appropriate in the circumstances of the case;
• A De Facto Relationship can exist between two persons of different sexes and between two persons of the same sex;
• A De Facto Relationship can exist even if one of the persons is legally married to someone else, or in another De Facto Relationship.