Getting In and Out of a De Facto Relationship

This month, Ben and Heather delved into the topic of de facto relationships, answering the following questions:

1. What is a de facto relationship?
2. How long do you have to live together to be in a de facto relationship?
3. How does the law decide when the de facto relationship starts and ends?
4. What does the Court consider when deciding if a de facto relationship exists?
5. Is it possible to be in a de facto relationship and not be living together?
6. Is it possible to be in a de facto relationship while married to someone else?
7. Do you need to register a de facto relationship?
8. Is a de facto relationship any different to a marriage under the law?
9. Does the law treat a same sex de facto relationship any differently than a heterosexual de facto?
10. Does the law treat property disputes any differently for a de facto relationship versus a marriage?
11. Does the law treat children's matters any differently for a de facto relationship versus a marriage?
12. Can I apply for spousal maintenance after a de facto relationship?
13. Should I get a pre-nup or financial agreement before entering a de facto relationship?