{"id":"sr:relationships-fees-regulations-2019","name":"Relationships (Fees) Regulations 2019","slug":"relationships-fees-regulations-2019","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"vic","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":181316,"registerId":"vic-sr:relationships-fees-regulations-2019-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Relationships (Fees) Regulations 2019","content":"Version No. 002\n\n**Relationships (Fees) Regulations 2019**\n\n**S.R. No. 79/2019**\n\nVersion incorporating amendments as at  \n1 March 2022\n\n**TABLE OF PROVISIONS**\n\n*Regulation Page*\n\n1 Objective 1\n\n2 Authorising provision 1\n\n3 Commencement 1\n\n4 Revocation 1\n\n5 Definition 1\n\n6 Fee for application to register a registrable domestic relationship or registrable caring relationship 1\n\n7 Fee for application to revoke the registration of a registered relationship 2\n\n8 Fee for addition of registrable information to the Relationships Register 2\n\n9 Fee for application for a search of the Relationships Register 2\n\n10 Fee for issue of certificate 2\n\n═════════════\n\nEndnotes 3\n\n1 General information 3\n\n2 Table of Amendments 5\n\n3 Amendments Not in Operation 6\n\n4 Explanatory details 7\n\n**Version No.** **002**\n\n**Relationships (Fees) Regulations 2019**\n\n**S.R. No. 79/2019**\n\nVersion incorporating amendments as at  \n1 March 2022\n\n\t1 Objective\n\nThe objective of these Regulations is to prescribe fees for the purposes of the **Relationships Act 2008**.\n\n\t2 Authorising provision\n\nThese Regulations are made under section 71 of the **Relationships Act 2008**.\n\n\t3 Commencement\n\nThese Regulations come into operation on 21 September 2019.\n\n\t4 Revocation\n\nThe Relationships (Fees) Regulations 2009[[1]](#endnote-2) are **revoked**.\n\n\t5 Definition\n\nIn these Regulations—\n\n***the Act*** means the **Relationships Act 2008**.\n\n\t6 Fee for application to register a registrable domestic relationship or registrable caring relationship\n\nFor the purposes of section 7(c) of the Act, the prescribed fee for an application to register a registrable domestic relationship or registrable caring relationship is 15∙4 fee units.\n\n\t7 Fee for application to revoke the registration of a registered relationship\n\nFor the purposes of section 12(3)(b) of the Act, the prescribed fee for an application to revoke the registration of a registered relationship is 5∙18 fee units.\n\n\t8 Fee for addition of registrable information to the Relationships Register\n\nFor the purposes of section 19(6) of the Act, the prescribed fee for an application to add registrable information to an entry in the Relationships Register is 5∙18 fee units.\n\n\t9 Fee for application for a search of the Relationships Register\n\nFor the purposes of section 21(2)(b) of the Act, the prescribed fee for an application for a search of the Relationships Register is nil.\n\nReg. 10 amended by S.R. No. 11/2022 reg. 4.\n\n\t10 Fee for issue of certificate\n\nFor the purposes of section 22(1) of the Act, the prescribed fee for the issue of a certificate certifying the results of a search of the Relationships Register is 3∙42 fee units.\n\n ═════════════\n\nEndnotes\n\n1 General information\n\nSee [www.legislation.vic.gov.au](http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au) for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.\n\nThe Relationships (Fees) Regulations 2019, S.R. No. 79/2019 were made on 10 September 2019 by the Governor in Council under section 71 of the **Relationships Act 2008**, No. 12/2008 and came into operation on 21 September 2019: regulation 3.\n\nThe Relationships (Fees) Regulations 2019 will sunset 10 years after the day of making on 10 September 2029 (see section 5 of the **Subordinate Legislation Act 1994**).\n\nINTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)\n\nStyle changes\n\nSection 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.\n\nReferences to ILA s. 39B\n\nSidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided regulation, rule or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subregulations, subrules or subclauses the original regulation, rule or clause becomes subregulation, subrule or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression \"(1)\" at the beginning of the original regulation, rule or clause.\n\nInterpretation\n\nAs from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:\n\n• Headings\n\nAll headings included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any heading inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nThis includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; Orders; Parts into which an Order is divided; clauses; regulations; rules; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms.  \nSee section 36(1A)(2A)(2B).\n\n• Examples, diagrams or notes\n\nAll examples, diagrams or notes included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Statutory Rule. Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Statutory Rule. See section 36(3A).\n\n• Punctuation\n\nAll punctuation included in a Statutory Rule which is made on or after  \n1 January 2001 forms part of that Statutory Rule. Any punctuation inserted in a Statutory Rule which was made before 1 January 2001, by a Statutory Rule made on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Statutory Rule.  \nSee section 36(3B).\n\n• Provision numbers\n\nAll provision numbers included in a Statutory Rule form part of that Statutory Rule, whether inserted in the Statutory Rule before, on or after  \n1 January 2001. Provision numbers include regulation numbers, rule numbers, subregulation numbers, subrule numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See section 36(3C).\n\n• Location of \"legislative items\"\n\nA \"legislative item\" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of a Statutory Rule is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section 36B.\n\n• Other material\n\nAny explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of a Statutory Rule. See section 36(3)(3D)(3E).\n\n2 Table of Amendments\n\nThis publication incorporates amendments made to the Relationships (Fees) Regulations 2019 by statutory rules, subordinate instruments and Acts.\n\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n\nRelationships (Fees) Amendment Regulations 2022, S.R. No. 11/2022\n\n| *Date of Making:* | 15.2.22 |\n| --- | --- |\n| *Date of Commencement:* | 1.3.22: reg. 3 |\n\n\n–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––\n\n3 Amendments Not in Operation\n\nThis version does not contain amendments that are not yet in operation.\n\n4 Explanatory details\n\n1. Reg. 4: S.R. No. 142/2009.\n\n  ——\n\n  **Fee Units**\n\n  These Regulations provide for fees by reference to fee units within the meaning of the **Monetary Units Act 2004**.\n\n  The amount of the fee is to be calculated, in accordance with section 7 of that Act, by multiplying the number of fee units applicable by the value of a fee unit.\n\n  The value of a fee unit for the financial year commencing 1 July 2021 is $15.03. The amount of the calculated fee may be rounded to the nearest 10 cents.\n\n  The value of a fee unit for future financial years is to be fixed by the Treasurer under section 5 of the **Monetary Units Act 2004**. The value of a fee unit for a financial year must be published in the Government Gazette and a Victorian newspaper before 1 June in the preceding financial year. [↑](#endnote-ref-2)","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulation remains tightly focused on its original purpose of prescribing fees for the Relationships Act 2008. The 2022 amendment only updated the fee for certificates (Regulation 10), without expanding the scope beyond the five original fee categories."},"complexity_factors":["Only 10 regulations total, with 6 substantive provisions","Single defined term ('the Act')","No cross-references between provisions","Simple conditional structure: each regulation contains one fee amount for one specific purpose","Fee unit mechanism requires external reference to Monetary Units Act 2004 for actual dollar calculation","Minimal amendments (only one amending instrument incorporated)"],"plain_english_summary":"This is a Victorian regulation that sets out the fees people must pay for services related to the Relationships Register. The Relationships Register is a government record where couples can officially register their domestic or caring relationships, similar to a marriage register.\n\n**What this regulation does:**\n- **Sets fees for registering a relationship**: It costs 15.4 fee units (roughly $231 at 2021-22 rates) to apply to register a domestic or caring relationship.\n- **Sets fees for ending a registration**: It costs 5.18 fee units (roughly $78) to apply to cancel a registered relationship.\n- **Sets fees for updating records**: It costs 5.18 fee units to add information to an existing registration.\n- **Makes searches free**: There is no charge to search the Relationships Register.\n- **Sets fees for certificates**: It costs 3.42 fee units (roughly $51) to get an official certificate showing search results.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Couples registering domestic partnerships or caring relationships in Victoria\n- People wanting to end a registered relationship\n- Anyone requesting official documents or searches from the Relationships Register\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThese fees determine how much it costs to access legal recognition of relationships in Victoria. Registered relationships give couples legal rights similar to married couples in areas like property, medical decisions, and inheritance. The regulation uses \"fee units\" rather than dollar amounts so fees automatically adjust with inflation without needing new laws each year."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Regulations continue the original, narrow purpose of prescribing fees under the Relationships Act. Changes recorded in the text are procedural (revocation of the 2009 Regulations and an amendment to the certificate fee) and do not broaden the regulatory scope; fees remain expressed in fee units and subject to the Monetary Units Act and the instrument's sunset provision."},"complexity_factors":["Simple, finite list of fees tied to specific registry actions (registrations, revocations, additions, searches, certificates).","Fees are expressed in fee units rather than fixed dollars, so monetary amounts vary with the fee‑unit value set under the Monetary Units Act (endnotes).","Cross‑references to the Relationships Act (authorising provision s.71) and Monetary Units Act introduce dependency on external statutes.","One amendment noted (Reg 10 amended by S.R. No. 11/2022) and prior regulations were revoked, requiring users to track amendment history.","Sunset requirement under the Subordinate Legislation Act (10‑year sunsetting) affects regulatory lifespan."],"plain_english_summary":"These Regulations set the dollar charges (expressed as fee units) for using the Victorian Relationships Register: applying to register or revoke a relationship, adding information, searching the register (no search fee) and issuing a certificate. The instrument says its purpose is to prescribe fees under the Relationships Act; mechanically, fees move with the fee‑unit value fixed under the Monetary Units Act, so applicants pay variable dollar amounts and the State receives the revenue (regs 6–10; endnotes on fee units)."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on available metadata, this regulation appears to serve its stated purpose as a fee instrument under the Relationships Act framework. There is no evidence of scope creep or deviation from original intent, though the incomplete document prevents a fully confident assessment. Fee regulations of this type are rarely amended to expand beyond their original administrative purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Document provided is incomplete — only metadata and version history are present, with no substantive fee provisions visible","Fee regulations are inherently straightforward instruments with limited interpretive complexity","Likely contains simple numerical schedules rather than complex legal standards","Operates as subordinate legislation (a regulation made under a parent Act), which adds one layer of legal hierarchy to understand","Limited scope — governs a narrow administrative function (fee-setting) rather than broad legal rights or obligations"],"plain_english_summary":"This regulation sets the government fees payable under Victoria’s Relationships Act for registering or managing formal relationships. It affects individuals and practitioners who lodge or process relationship registrations by specifying the charges they must pay. The supplied file lacks the actual fee schedule, so the regulation’s specific amounts aren’t available here, though such instruments are commonly updated to reflect inflation."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/relationships-fees-regulations-2019","history":"/api/acts/relationships-fees-regulations-2019/history","analysis":"/api/acts/relationships-fees-regulations-2019/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/relationships-fees-regulations-2019/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/relationships-fees-regulations-2019/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/relationships-fees-regulations-2019/documents"}}