3Interpretation

### 3 Interpretation > In this Act – > > > ***caring relationship*** – see [section 5](#GS5@EN) ; > > > ***child*** includes – > > > > > > (a) a child of which the partners are the natural parents; and > > > > > > > (b) a child of a female whose male partner is treated as the father of the child under [section 10C of the](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1974-036#GS10C@EN) [Status of Children Act 1974](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1974-036) ; and > > > > > > > (c) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 31 of 2012, s. 18, Applied:01 May 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-05-01/act-2012-031#GS18@Hpa@EN) a child adopted by the partners; and > > > > > > > (d) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 31 of 2012, s. 18, Applied:01 May 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-05-01/act-2012-031#GS18@Hpb@EN) a surrogate child of the partners; > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 16 of 2006, s. 28, Applied:01 Nov 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-11-01/act-2006-016#GS28@Hpa@EN) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 66 of 2007, Sched. 1, Applied:31 Dec 2008\]*](/view/html/inforce/2008-12-31/act-2007-066#JS1@Ja87@GC1@Hpa@EN) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 18 of 2010, s. 4, Applied:01 Apr 2011\]*](/view/html/inforce/2011-04-01/act-2010-018#GS4@EN) > > > ***court*** means – > > > > > > (a) the Supreme Court; or > > > > > > > (b) the Magistrates Court; > > > ***disposition*** includes a sale or gift; > > > ***family relationship*** – see [section 7](#GS7@EN) ; > > > ***financial matters*** means matters relating to any one or more of the following: > > > > > > (a) the maintenance of either or both of the partners; > > > > > > > (b) the income or property of either or both of the partners; > > > > > > > (c) the financial resources of either or both of the partners; > > > ***financial resources*** includes – > > > > > > (a) a prospective claim or entitlement in respect of a scheme, fund or arrangement under which superannuation, retirement or similar benefits are provided; and > > > > > > > (b) property that under the provisions of a discretionary trust may become vested in or used or applied in or towards the purposes, or for the benefit, of either or both partners or of any third party at their direction; and > > > > > > > (c) property, the alienation or disposition of which is wholly or partly under the control of either or both partners and which is lawfully capable of being used or applied by or on behalf of either or both partners in or towards their purposes or for their benefit or that of any third party at their direction; and > > > > > > > (d) an indexed pension; and > > > > > > > (e) any other valuable benefit; > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 16 of 2006, s. 28, Applied:01 Nov 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-11-01/act-2006-016#GS28@Hpb@EN) [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 66 of 2007, Sched. 1, Applied:31 Dec 2008\]*](/view/html/inforce/2008-12-31/act-2007-066#JS1@Ja87@GC1@Hpb@EN) > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 66 of 2007, Sched. 1, Applied:31 Dec 2008\]*](/view/html/inforce/2008-12-31/act-2007-066#JS1@Ja87@GC1@Hpb@EN) ***legal practitioner*** means an Australian legal practitioner; > > > ***Magistrates Court*** means the Magistrates Court (Civil Division) established under the [Magistrates Court (Civil Division) Act 1992](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1992-027) ; > > > ***marriage*** means a marriage under the *Marriage Act 1961* of the Commonwealth; > > > ***order*** means an order under [Part 5](#HP5@EN) ; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 31 of 2012, s. 18, Applied:01 May 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-05-01/act-2012-031#GS18@Hpc@EN) ***parent*** includes surrogate parent; > > > ***partner*** means a person who is or has been in a personal relationship; > > > ***periodic maintenance*** means maintenance paid or payable as a weekly, fortnightly, monthly, yearly or other periodic sum; > > > ***personal relationship*** – see [section 6](#GS6@EN) ; > > > ***personal relationship agreement*** means an agreement or a variation of an agreement between two persons, whether or not there are other parties to the agreement – > > > > > > (a) that is made before, on or after the commencement of this Act – > > > > > > > > > > (i) in contemplation of their entering into a personal relationship; or > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) during the existence of their personal relationship; and > > > > > > > (b) that provides for financial matters, whether or not it provides for other matters; > > > ***property*** includes – > > > > > > (a) real and personal property; and > > > > > > > (b) any estate or interest (whether a present, future or contingent estate or interest) in real or personal property; and > > > > > > > (c) money and any debt; and > > > > > > > (d) any cause of action for damages; and > > > > > > > (e) any other chose in action; and > > > > > > > (f) any right with respect to property; > > > ***Register*** means the Relationships Register maintained under [section 19](#GS19@EN) ; > > > ***Registrar*** means the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages holding office under the [Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1999](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1999-058) ; > > > ***regulations*** means the regulations in force under this Act; > > > ***separation agreement*** means an agreement or a variation of an agreement between partners, whether or not there are other parties to the agreement, and an agreement which varies a personal relationship agreement – > > > > > > (a) that is made before, on or after the commencement of this Act – > > > > > > > > > > (i) in contemplation of the termination of the personal relationship; or > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) after the termination of the personal relationship; and > > > > > > > (b) that provides for financial matters, whether or not it provides for other matters; > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 31 of 2012, s. 18, Applied:01 May 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-05-01/act-2012-031#GS18@Hpd@EN) > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 31 of 2012, s. 18, Applied:01 May 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-05-01/act-2012-031#GS18@Hpd@EN) ***significant relationship*** – see [section 4](#GS4@EN) ; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 31 of 2012, s. 18, Applied:01 May 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-05-01/act-2012-031#GS18@Hpd@EN) ***surrogate child***, in relation to partners, means a child – > > > > > > (a) who is a child of the partners by virtue of the operation of [section 26(1)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2012-034#GS26@EN) of the [Surrogacy Act 2012](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2012-034) , or a law, of another State or a Territory or a foreign country, that corresponds to that Act; and > > > > > > > (b) who has not ceased to be a child of the partners under the Act or law; > > > [*\[Section 3 Amended by No. 31 of 2012, s. 18, Applied:01 May 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-05-01/act-2012-031#GS18@Hpd@EN) ***surrogate parent*** means a person – > > > > > > (a) who is a parent of a child by virtue of the operation of [section 26(1)](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2012-034#GS26@EN) of the [Surrogacy Act 2012](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2012-034) , or a law, of another State or a Territory or a foreign country, that corresponds to that Act; and > > > > > > > (b) who has not ceased to be a parent of the child under that Act or law.