I am looking for general rules of thumb to follow when allowing a partner/girlfriend (with whom one is having a sexual relationship) to stay over in one's house so that the risk of being judged to be in a De Facto relationship is minimised in the event of any future relationship breakdown.
I realise that it is not possible to devise a water-tight strategy so I am just looking for general rules of thumb to minimise risk.
Example rules I can think of might be:-
1. Avoid more than X nights a week of her staying overnight in your home (X=3 ?)
2. If the relationship is not going to last then make sure it ends before Y months (Y=24 ?)
3. Do not give her a key to the house
4. Do not allow her to use your address for receiving mail
5. Do not allow her clothes to be stored in your wardrobes
6. Make sure all food consumed in the house is purchased by you and she does not bring groceries to the house.
7. When travelling away somewhere without her, advise her to get any of her belongings from your house that she needs before you leave, as she will not have access.
8. Do not mix finances
9. Do not have children
10. If she already has children do not allow them to sleep over in your house
If anyone has any suggestions to add or comments to make on these example rules that would be useful.
Sorry if the list sounds a bit calculating but, unfortunately, that is the nature of relationships when looking at them from a legal risk perspective.
Thanks
I realise that it is not possible to devise a water-tight strategy so I am just looking for general rules of thumb to minimise risk.
Example rules I can think of might be:-
1. Avoid more than X nights a week of her staying overnight in your home (X=3 ?)
2. If the relationship is not going to last then make sure it ends before Y months (Y=24 ?)
3. Do not give her a key to the house
4. Do not allow her to use your address for receiving mail
5. Do not allow her clothes to be stored in your wardrobes
6. Make sure all food consumed in the house is purchased by you and she does not bring groceries to the house.
7. When travelling away somewhere without her, advise her to get any of her belongings from your house that she needs before you leave, as she will not have access.
8. Do not mix finances
9. Do not have children
10. If she already has children do not allow them to sleep over in your house
If anyone has any suggestions to add or comments to make on these example rules that would be useful.
Sorry if the list sounds a bit calculating but, unfortunately, that is the nature of relationships when looking at them from a legal risk perspective.
Thanks