ARTICLE · 13 NOVEMBER 2008

Marriage Without The Ceremony

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After a number of false starts under the previous government, at 9:01am on 25 June 2008 Federal Attorney-General Robert McCelland introduced a Bill to amend the Family Law Act 1975 to bring de facto financial matters under the same jurisdiction as marriages.

AustraliaFamily and Matrimonial

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Article by Andrew McCormack, Associate

After a number of false starts under the previous government, at 9:01am on 25 June 2008 Federal Attorney-General Robert McCelland introduced a Bill to amend the Family Law Act 1975 to bring de facto financial matters under the same jurisdiction as marriages. The Bill was passed the Senate on 10 November 2008, the House of Representatives on 11 November 2008 and is now on its way to the Governor-General for her assent.

The Family Law Amendment (De facto financial matters and other measures) Bill 2008 can quite properly be described as one of the most significant changes in relationship law in Australia since the introduction of the Family Law Act in 1975.

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