Jurisdiction on de facto's (1 Viewer)

[jonathan__]

Well i know that de facto couples are covered by State law and marriages by Federal. Also, cases dealing w/ marriages can be heard in the Family Court of Australia and the Federal Magistrates Court. Can de facto cases be heard here as well? Cheers..

 

[Ziff]

Only if it involves children.

Matters concerning children go to the FmCA/FMS. De facto matters otherwise go before State/Territory courts (in NSW under the Property (Relationships) Act 1984). I'm not entirely sure of the situation in Western Australia though who have their own state-based Family Court.