If you were in a relationship which meets the criteria of a de facto relationship (as set out in section 4AA of the Family Law Act), there are provisions in the Act which sets out what can occur upon the breakdown of a de facto relationship. This applies to relationships between de facto partners of the same and opposite sex.
The same legal principles that apply to financial settlements between parties to a marriage are applied to settlements between former de facto partners. Just as with married people, superannuation can be split between de facto partners following their relationship breakdown. The Court can also order that a de facto partner has to pay spousal maintenance to their ex-partner.
Parenting matters are also considered in the same way regardless of whether the parents of the child were married or in a de facto relationship.