Same-sex couples have traditionally faced discrimination in legal recognition of their relationships. This significantly affected your financial and parental rights, and the ability to enforce those rights at law.

The good news for same-sex couples is that this is gradually changing. Although same-sex marriages are not yet recognised, changes to commonwealth and states laws finally give you many of the rights as if you were married.

For example, in the event that you separate from your partner you may now be entitled to a share of your former partner’s superannuation or to ask the court for child support. You can obtain an order against domestic violence if you need one. State laws preserve some of these rights if you separated before the new laws came into effect.

At James Noble Family Law, our team is highly experienced in dealing with the particular challenges that same-sex couples face with regard to family law and legal recognition of their relationships. We can explain all your legal rights, entitlements and responsibilities, and advise you of all your options with honesty, sensitivity and tact regardless of whether you’ve recently entered into a relationship, or have just split up.