I live within a particular State in Australia where, a while ago, the government made up this funny rule to do with relationships.
This is an old article from SheKnowsAustralia - http://www.sheknows.com.au/beauty-and-love/articles/962543/what-are-you-entitled-to-when-a-de-facto-relationship-breaks-down
I'll quote the important bits here.
"Moving in together might seem like a great way to halve living expenses while studying at uni or as a sanity-saving solution to sharing with grotty random strangers, but did you know that after two years of living together you are considered a de facto couple?"
For those who didn't know, a defacto relationship is where two people who are not married or in a registered relationship, live together as a couple.
"No biggie, right? Well, not unless your partner is receiving benefits from Centrelink or the relationship goes belly up. Then, girl, it's a whole new ball game. If the relationship goes to custard, it's no longer a case of snatching back your CDs and moving back in with your parents. In the eyes of the law, as of March 1, 2009, you and your partner are as good as married"
"As of March 1, 2009, de facto couples have the right to apply to the family courts for orders in relation to division of property"
"Superannuation held by you and your partner can be split by agreement or by court order."
The big question I want to ask everyone is, what do you think about this?
The first time I found out, I freaked. The world had already painted me a pretty picture of what failed marriages are like for men, and now I didn't even have to BE married to lose half my stuff (Not to mention my retirement money)
I had a friend who literally had short and sweet relationships just so this wouldn't happen to him.
This is an old article from SheKnowsAustralia - http://www.sheknows.com.au/beauty-and-love/articles/962543/what-are-you-entitled-to-when-a-de-facto-relationship-breaks-down
I'll quote the important bits here.
"Moving in together might seem like a great way to halve living expenses while studying at uni or as a sanity-saving solution to sharing with grotty random strangers, but did you know that after two years of living together you are considered a de facto couple?"
For those who didn't know, a defacto relationship is where two people who are not married or in a registered relationship, live together as a couple.
"No biggie, right? Well, not unless your partner is receiving benefits from Centrelink or the relationship goes belly up. Then, girl, it's a whole new ball game. If the relationship goes to custard, it's no longer a case of snatching back your CDs and moving back in with your parents. In the eyes of the law, as of March 1, 2009, you and your partner are as good as married"
"As of March 1, 2009, de facto couples have the right to apply to the family courts for orders in relation to division of property"
"Superannuation held by you and your partner can be split by agreement or by court order."
The big question I want to ask everyone is, what do you think about this?
The first time I found out, I freaked. The world had already painted me a pretty picture of what failed marriages are like for men, and now I didn't even have to BE married to lose half my stuff (Not to mention my retirement money)
I had a friend who literally had short and sweet relationships just so this wouldn't happen to him.
