"A de facto relationship is defined by the Property (Relationships) Act since June 1999 to include all couples who, live together as a couple and are not married, or not siblings or parent/child. The law takes into consideration a number of factors before deciding whether a de facto relationship exists. IncludingHow long the relationship has lasted, whether you both live in the same house, how
. the household duties are done, how intertwined your finances are, whether you own assets together, the care and control of any children in the relationship, whether outsiders see you as a couple, and whether you intend the relationship to be permanent. The law treats de facto relationships differently to married couples when deciding maintenance to your partner, property division, and entitlement to your partners estate upon death.Please check here http://www.law4u.com.au/cgi-bin/factsheet_right.asp?article_id=476 for more information."
