GAMMON & LOCKWOOD

In the matter of *Gammon & Lockwood*, heard by Judge Coakes, the applicant, Ms Gammon, and the respondent, Mr Lockwood, sought declarations regarding their relationship. The core of the dispute concerned the existence and nature of their de facto relationship, including its commencement and termination dates, the presence of any children, and the jurisdiction in which it occurred.

The primary legal issue before the Court was to determine, pursuant to section 90RD of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), whether Ms Gammon and Mr Lockwood were in a de facto relationship. This determination required the Court to ascertain the commencement and cessation of such a relationship, whether any children were born of that relationship, and the geographical location where the relationship subsisted.

The Court declared that Ms Gammon and Mr Lockwood were indeed in a de facto relationship, which commenced in September 2003 and concluded in September 2012. The Court further declared that no children were born of this de facto relationship and that the relationship took place within the State of New South Wales.