A relationship register is an alternative to marriage that provides legal proof of a relationship. This may be useful in issues relating to tax, retirement accounts, government payments, immigration or medical emergencies. Most states and territories in Australia provide a relationship register, [1] and similar registers exist in other jurisdictions, such as the Canadian province of Manitoba. [2]
Effect on marriage statistics
Relationships recorded in these registers are not included in Australian marriage statistics, which the Australian Bureau of Statistics identified as a possible data anomaly. While marriage rates have declined, the recently introduced relationship registers have grown in use. [1] Although some couples have registered relationships because they are prohibited from marrying under the federal Marriage Act 1961 as amended by the Marriage Amendment Act 2004, [3] other couples have registered as an alternative to marriage, thus reducing the marriage rate. [1]
References
- ^ a b c "The Changing Nature of Marriage in Australia". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 30 November 2016. Archived from the original on 21 February 2017. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
- ^ "Registering or dissolving a common-law relationship..." Vital Statistics Agency, Division of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, Manitoba Department of Finance. Archived from the original on 29 June 2007. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
- ^ "Fact file: High Court decision on ACT same-sex marriage laws". ABC News. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 13 March 2017.