Reform to the Family Law Act 1975 in recent decades has afforded de facto couples in Australia the same legal status as those who are married. However, there are issues specific to de facto relationships which still require specialised legal advice, whether that be in entering into a Binding Financial Agreement (“Pre-nup”) at the commencement of a de facto relationship, or attending to matters arising out of the breakdown of a de facto relationship.

• What factors define a de facto relationship?
• If it is the same, then what is different?