{"id":"tas:sr-2023-084","name":"Relationships Regulations 2023","slug":"relationships-regulations-2023","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"tas","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"84 of 2023","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":179440,"registerId":"tas-tas:sr-2023-084-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Short title","content":"### 1 Short title\n\n> These regulations may be cited as the [Relationships Regulations 2023](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/sr-2023-084) .","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"### 2 Commencement\n\n> These regulations take effect on 18 December 2023.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Interpretation","content":"### 3 Interpretation\n\n> In these regulations –\n> \n> > ***Act*** means the [Relationships Act 2003](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-044) ;\n> \n> > ***Administrator of the Magistrates Court*** means the Administrator of the Magistrates Court as defined in the [Magistrates Court Act 1987](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1987-045) ;\n> \n> > ***registrar of the Magistrates Court*** means registrar as defined in the [Magistrates Court (Civil Division) Act 1992](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1992-027) .","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Prescribed order under  section 67(1)  of Act","content":"### 4 Prescribed order under  section 67(1)  of Act\n\n> An order for periodic maintenance, made by the Supreme Court under [section 47](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-044#GS47@EN) of the Act, is a prescribed order for the purposes of [section 67(1)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-044#GS67@Gs1@EN) of the Act.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Certificate","content":"### 5 Certificate\n\n> > (1)  A person in whose favour an order for periodic maintenance is made by the Supreme Court under [section 47](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-044#GS47@EN) of the Act may apply to the Registrar of the Supreme Court for a certificate in respect of the order.\n> \n> > (2)  The certificate referred to in [subregulation (1)](#GS5@Gs1@EN) is to be in a form determined by the Registrar of the Supreme Court.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Application to record order for periodic maintenance","content":"### 6 Application to record order for periodic maintenance\n\n> > (1)  A person may make an application to a registrar of the Magistrates Court to have an order for periodic maintenance, made by the Supreme Court under [section 47](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-044#GS47@EN) of the Act, recorded as being enforceable as if it were a judgment of the Magistrates Court under the [Magistrates Court (Civil Division) Act 1992](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1992-027) .\n> \n> > (2)  An application under [subregulation (1)](#GS6@Gs1@EN) in respect of an order for periodic maintenance is to include the following:\n> > \n> > > > (a) a certificate issued under [regulation 5](#GS5@EN) ;\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an affidavit of the person making the application under [subregulation (1)](#GS6@Gs1@EN) stating that –\n> > > > \n> > > > > > (i) a copy of the order was served on the person liable to make payments under the order; and\n> > > > > \n> > > > > > (ii) the order has not been complied with for at least 14 days; and\n> > > > > \n> > > > > > (iii) a specified amount of money is unpaid.\n> \n> > (3)  After receiving an application under [subregulation (1)](#GS6@Gs1@EN) in respect of an order for periodic maintenance, the registrar of the Magistrates Court –\n> > \n> > > > (a) is to record the order for periodic maintenance, if satisfied as to the matters referred to in [subregulation (2)(b)](#GS6@Gs2@Hpb@EN) ; or\n> > > \n> > > > (b) is not to record the order, if not satisfied as to the matters referred to in [subregulation (2)(b)](#GS6@Gs2@Hpb@EN) .","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Cancellation of record","content":"### 7 Cancellation of record\n\n> > (1)  The Registrar of the Supreme Court is to give written notice to the Administrator of the Magistrates Court of a discharge, variation or suspension of an order for periodic maintenance.\n> \n> > (2)  On receipt of a notice under [subregulation (1)](#GS7@Gs1@EN) in respect of an order for periodic maintenance, the Administrator of the Magistrates Court is to cancel all records of the order made under [regulation 6(3)(a)](#GS6@Gs3@Hpa@EN) .\n> \n> > (3)  If a record of an order for periodic maintenance is cancelled under [subregulation (2)](#GS7@Gs2@EN) –\n> > \n> > > > (a) the order is not enforceable in the Magistrates Court; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) any enforcement process in respect of that order ceases to have effect; and\n> > > \n> > > > (c) nothing prevents a subsequent application being made under [regulation 6(1)](#GS6@Gs1@EN) in respect of the order.","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"8","sectionType":"section","heading":"Corresponding laws for purposes of  section 65A  of Act","content":"### 8 Corresponding laws for purposes of  section 65A  of Act\n\n> For the purposes of [section 65A](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-044#GS65A@EN) of the Act, the following laws are prescribed as corresponding laws:\n> \n> > > (a) *Civil Unions Act 2012* of the Australian Capital Territory;\n> > \n> > > (b) *Domestic Relationships Act 1994* of the Australian Capital Territory;\n> > \n> > > (c) *Relationships Register Act 2010* of New South Wales;\n> > \n> > > (d) *Civil Partnerships Act 2011* of Queensland;\n> > \n> > > (e) *Relationships Register Act 2016* of South Australia;\n> > \n> > > (f) *Relationships Act 2008* of Victoria;\n> > \n> > > (g) Part 2, Subpart 5 of the *Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Act 2021* of New Zealand;\n> > \n> > > (h) *Civil Union Act 2004* of New Zealand;\n> > \n> > > (i) *Civil Partnership Act 2004* of the United Kingdom;\n> > \n> > > (j) *Vital Statistics Act*, C.C.S.M. c. V-60 of Manitoba, Canada;\n> > \n> > > (k) *Vital Statistics Act*, R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 494 of Nova Scotia, Canada;\n> > \n> > > (l) *Civil Code of Quebec*, CQLR c CCQ-1991, of Quebec, Canada.","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"9","sectionType":"section","heading":"Classes of relationships for the purposes of  section 65A  of Act","content":"### 9 Classes of relationships for the purposes of  section 65A  of Act\n\n> For the purposes of [section 65A](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-044#GS65A@EN) of the Act, the following classes of relationships are prescribed:\n> \n> > > (a) civil unions within the meaning of the *Civil Unions Act 2012* of the Australian Capital Territory;\n> > \n> > > (b) civil partnerships for which registration is in force under the *Domestic Relationships Act 1994* of the Australian Capital Territory;\n> > \n> > > (c) registered relationships under the *Relationships Register Act 2010* of New South Wales;\n> > \n> > > (d) registered civil partnerships within the meaning of the *Civil Partnerships Act 2011* of Queensland;\n> > \n> > > (e) registered relationships under the *Relationships Register Act 2016* of South Australia;\n> > \n> > > (f) registered domestic relationships under the *Relationships Act 2008* of Victoria;\n> > \n> > > (g) civil unions solemnised under the *Civil Union Act 2004* of New Zealand;\n> > \n> > > (h) civil partnerships within the meaning of the *Civil Partnership Act 2004* of the United Kingdom;\n> > \n> > > (i) common-law relationships within the meaning of the *Vital Statistics Act*, C.C.S.M. c. V-60 of Manitoba, Canada, which are registered under section 13.1 of that Act;\n> > \n> > > (j) domestic partnerships within the meaning of the *Vital Statistics Act*, R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 494 of Nova Scotia, Canada;\n> > \n> > > (k) civil unions solemnised under Title I.1 of Book 2 of the *Civil Code of Quebec*, CQLR c CCQ-1991, of Quebec, Canada.","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"10","sectionType":"section","heading":"Fees","content":"### 10 Fees\n\n> The fees set out in [Schedule 1](#JS1@EN) are prescribed as the fees that are payable under the [Relationships Act 2003](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2003-044) in respect of the matters to which they relate.","sortOrder":9},{"sectionNumber":"SCHEDULE 1 - Fees","sectionType":"part","heading":"SCHEDULE 1 - Fees","content":"# SCHEDULE 1 - Fees SCHEDULE 1 - Fees\n\n[Regulation 10](#GS10@EN)\n\n|  |  | Fee (Fee units) |\n| 1. | A search of the Register in any one name (including the issue of the relevant certificate) – |  |\n|  | (a) for a search covering a period not exceeding 5 years; and | 31 |\n|  | (b) for each additional 5-year period or part of such a period | 11 |\n| 2. | An application for a search of the Register and the issue of a certified copy of an entry or document not otherwise provided for | 31 |\n| 3. | Priority fee for processing a search of the Register | 22 |\n| 4. | An application to register a deed of relationship | 121 |\n| 5. | An application for the amendment of information in the Register not otherwise provided for | 33 |\n| 6. | An application for the revocation of a deed of relationship | 50 |\n\nDisplayed and numbered in accordance with the *[Rules Publication Act 1953](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1953-050)*.\n\nNotified in the *Gazette* on 29 November 2023\n\nThese regulations are administered in the Department of Justice.","sortOrder":10}],"analysis":{"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"These regulations implement operational and procedural detail that the Relationships Act contemplates: they do not broaden substantive coverage or introduce new substantive rights. They (a) provide the mechanism to have Supreme Court periodic maintenance orders recorded and enforced in the Magistrates Court; (b) prescribe the form/certificate and affidavit requirements; (c) list corresponding foreign/interstate laws and relationship classes for recognition purposes; and (d) set administrative fees. The instrument therefore clarifies and enables enforcement and recognition under the Act rather than expanding the Act's original substantive scope."},"complexity_factors":["10 regulations totaling a short, focused instrument","3 defined terms in reg 3 (Act; Administrator of the Magistrates Court; registrar of the Magistrates Court)","Multiple cross-references to the Relationships Act 2003 and two Magistrates Court Acts (Magistrates Court Act 1987; Magistrates Court (Civil Division) Act 1992)","Procedural conditional logic for recording orders: applicant requirements, registrar satisfaction test, and cancellation on notice (regs 5–7) with an affidavit that has three required elements (reg 6(2)(b)(i)–(iii))","Discretion left to registrars (form of certificate determined by Supreme Court Registrar; registrar satisfaction in reg 6(3))","Two lists each containing multiple external statutes and jurisdictions (regs 8 and 9) increasing interpretive work on recognition","Schedule 1 with 6 fee items and reference to fee units (reg 10 and Schedule 1)","Inter-court operational dependency (notification and cancellation duties in reg 7) which raises implementation considerations"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanics)\n\n- Creates a simple procedure to convert certain Supreme Court periodic maintenance orders into orders that can be enforced in the Magistrates Court (reg 4; reg 6).\n- Requires a certificate from the Registrar of the Supreme Court to accompany any application to have a Supreme Court periodic maintenance order recorded in the Magistrates Court (reg 5(1)–(2); reg 6(2)(a)). The form of that certificate is set by the Supreme Court Registrar (reg 5(2)).\n- Sets out what an applicant must file with the Magistrates Court: the certificate plus an affidavit stating that the order was served on the payer, that it has been unpaid for at least 14 days, and specifying the unpaid amount (reg 6(2)(b)).\n- Gives the Magistrates Court registrar a gatekeeping role. The registrar will record the order for enforcement if satisfied of the affidavit statements; if not satisfied, the registrar must not record it (reg 6(3)).\n- Requires the Supreme Court Registrar to notify the Administrator of the Magistrates Court when a periodic maintenance order is discharged, varied or suspended; on that notice the Administrator must cancel any record in the Magistrates Court, and that cancellation stops all Magistrates Court enforcement processes previously in effect (reg 7(1)–(3)).\n- Prescribes a list of external laws (Australian States/Territories, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and certain Canadian provinces) whose relationship registrations or unions are treated as \"corresponding laws\" for recognition purposes under the Relationships Act (reg 8). It also lists the classes of relationships under those laws that are to be treated as corresponding relationship classes (reg 9).\n- Prescribes fees for searches, certified copies, priority processing, registration and revocation of deeds of relationship, and amendments to the register (reg 10 and Schedule 1). The schedule gives fee amounts in fee units (Schedule 1).\n\nWho is affected and who pays/decides\n\n- Persons holding a Supreme Court periodic maintenance order who want it enforced in the Magistrates Court: they must apply, pay the prescribed fees where applicable, obtain a certificate from the Supreme Court Registrar and file an affidavit meeting the stated requirements (regs 5–6; Schedule 1).\n- The person required to pay maintenance (the respondent) is affected because recording allows enforcement using Magistrates Court processes once the registrar records the order (reg 6(3); reg 7(3)(a)–(b)).\n- Court officers: the Supreme Court Registrar issues certificates and must notify the Magistrates Court Administrator of any change to the order (reg 5; reg 7(1)). The Magistrates Court registrar decides whether to record the order based on the affidavit (reg 6(3)).\n- Users of the public register and parties seeking certified copies or priority processing pay the fees listed in Schedule 1 (reg 10; Schedule 1).\n\nOfficial purpose-claims and a practical check\n\n- The regulations operationalise enforcement and cross-jurisdiction recognition provisions of the Relationships Act by: (a) creating a route for Supreme Court periodic maintenance orders to be enforced through the Magistrates Court (regs 4–7); and (b) specifying which foreign and interstate relationship statutes and relationship classes the Act will treat as \"corresponding\" for recognition (regs 8–9).\n\nPractical implications, trade-offs and implementation notes\n\n- Administrative discretion and gatekeeping: The registrar of the Magistrates Court must be satisfied of the affidavit facts before recording (reg 6(3)). That gives an administrative check but creates a point of discretionary refusal if documentary proof or sworn statements are incomplete.\n- Compliance burden for applicants: Applicants must obtain a Supreme Court certificate (form set by that Registrar), swear an affidavit proving service and non‑compliance for at least 14 days, and pay the relevant fees (reg 5; reg 6(2); Schedule 1). This is a modest procedural burden but a strict precondition to using Magistrates Court enforcement.\n- Certainty and reversibility: The Supreme Court Registrar must notify the Magistrates Court Administrator when orders are discharged, varied or suspended, and that triggers cancellation of Magistrates Court records and cessation of enforcement (reg 7). That preserves legal accuracy across courts but creates operational dependence on prompt inter-court communication.\n- Costs and incentives: Fees (Schedule 1) place direct costs on users (searches, certified copies, registration, amendments, revocation). The procedure may incentivise holders of Supreme Court orders to use Magistrates Court enforcement (generally quicker or cheaper) rather than pursue enforcement in the Supreme Court, shifting enforcement activity to a lower‑cost tribunal.\n- Cross-jurisdiction recognition: The prescribed list of corresponding laws and relationship classes (regs 8–9) clarifies which foreign or interstate relationship registrations will be recognised under the Act. That reduces uncertainty for people with registered relationships from the listed jurisdictions but means relationships from non‑listed jurisdictions may not receive equivalent treatment.\n\nConcrete behaviour changes\n\n- Successful applicants will be able to enforce a Supreme Court periodic maintenance order through Magistrates Court enforcement mechanisms once the order is recorded (reg 6(3); reg 7(3)(a)–(b)).\n- Administrators and registrars must exchange notifications about order status to keep enforcement records synchronized (reg 5; reg 7(1)).\n\nReferences to regulatory mechanics: reg 4–7 set out court-recording and enforcement mechanics; regs 8–9 list corresponding laws/classes for recognition; reg 10 and Schedule 1 set fees."},"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Unable to assess whether the scope changed from original intent, as the substantive content of the regulations was not included in the provided text. No evidence of scope expansion or contraction can be identified from metadata alone."},"complexity_factors":["Insufficient legislative content provided — only metadata and status information is present, making meaningful complexity assessment impossible","As a subordinate instrument (regulation), it typically contains procedural/administrative detail rather than complex legal principles","Relationship registration law is a relatively contained area of law with limited cross-jurisdictional complexity at the regulatory level"],"plain_english_summary":"The Relationships Regulations 2023 (Tas.) are a subordinate instrument, in force from 18 December 2023, that implements the practical rules for Tasmania’s Relationships Act. They set out how registered relationships are processed and managed under the parent law.\n\nThese regulations affect couples seeking to register, vary or end a registered relationship, and the lawyers and registry staff who handle those matters. (Substantive regulatory text was not provided here.)"},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"These regulations appear to serve their original intended purpose: operationalising the Relationships Act 2003 by setting enforcement procedures for maintenance orders, recognising interstate/overseas relationships, and establishing fees. There is no evidence of scope creep beyond the parent Act's framework."},"complexity_factors":["Only 3 defined terms in the interpretation section (Act, Administrator of the Magistrates Court, registrar of the Magistrates Court)","Straightforward procedural rules for enforcement of maintenance orders (single pathway: certificate → application → recording → enforcement)","Simple list-based provisions for corresponding laws and relationship classes (regulations 8 and 9) with no conditional logic","Minimal cross-referencing—primarily to the parent Act and two Magistrates Court Acts","No nested exceptions or complex conditional structures; regulation 7 contains basic consequences of cancellation but these are sequential, not layered","Short length (10 regulations plus fee schedule)","Fee schedule uses standard tabular format with clear itemisation"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations support Tasmania's Relationships Act 2003, which governs how couples (including same-sex and de facto couples) can register their relationships and access legal rights.\n\n**What these regulations do:**\n\n* **Make maintenance orders enforceable** – If the Supreme Court orders someone to pay ongoing financial support (periodic maintenance) to their former partner, these regulations create a pathway to enforce that order through the Magistrates Court. This involves getting a certificate from the Supreme Court, applying to the Magistrates Court, and providing proof that payments are overdue.\n\n* **Recognise interstate and overseas relationships** – The regulations list which relationship laws from other Australian states, New Zealand, Canada, and the UK are recognised as equivalent to Tasmania's registered relationships. This means couples who registered their relationship elsewhere can have those registrations recognised in Tasmania without starting over.\n\n* **Set fees** – The regulations establish fees (measured in \"fee units\") for services like searching the relationships register, registering a new relationship, or amending existing records.\n\n**Who this affects:**\n\n* Couples in registered relationships in Tasmania\n* Former partners seeking to enforce maintenance (financial support) orders\n* People who registered relationships in other states or countries and want recognition in Tasmania\n* Anyone using the Relationships Register services\n\n**Why it matters:**\nWithout these regulations, maintenance orders from the Supreme Court would be difficult to enforce practically, and couples from interstate or overseas would face uncertainty about whether their relationships are legally recognised in Tasmania."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/relationships-regulations-2023","history":"/api/acts/relationships-regulations-2023/history","analysis":"/api/acts/relationships-regulations-2023/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/relationships-regulations-2023/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/relationships-regulations-2023/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/relationships-regulations-2023/documents"}}