Beulen and Tobin

In the Federal Circuit Court, Judge McGuire considered an application by Ms Beulen and Ms Tobin for a declaration regarding their relationship. The core of the dispute concerned whether a de facto relationship existed between the parties for the purposes of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth).

The primary legal issue before the Court was to determine whether Ms Beulen and Ms Tobin were in a de facto relationship within the meaning of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth) during the period in question. This determination was a prerequisite for the Court to exercise its jurisdiction in relation to property settlement matters.

Judge McGuire declared that a de facto relationship existed between Ms Beulen and Ms Tobin between approximately 2003 and 10 August 2017, pursuant to section 90RD(1) of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). Following this declaration, the Court made orders for the parties to attend property mediation with an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. The orders also stipulated the documents to be provided to the mediator, the payment of mediation fees, and the process for obtaining joint valuations of disputed assets. The matter was adjourned for further directions.