Your rights and obligations when a De Facto relationship breaks down

LEGAL HOTLINE: 1300 636 846, 7am to Midnight, 7 days Get a Good Lawyer. Fast. When a de facto relationship breaks down, property settlement and child custody and maintenance issues are governed by the Family Law Act 1975 in all Australian states and territories except for Western Australia. For de facto relationships in Western Australia, the relevant legislation is the Family Court Act 1997. Section 4AA of the Australian Family Law Act 1975 and section 13A of the Interpretation Act 1984 in Western Australia describe a de facto relationship as one in which a couple lives together on a genuine domestic basis. This applies to different sex or same sex relationships. Read more: De Facto Relationships | Family and Divorce Lawyers, Link: Criminal Law: Family Law: Civil Law: ht