Who gets the flat-screen TV when a de facto relationship ends, and how long do you need to be in a relationship to be classified as de facto anyways?

Founder of DivorceAnswered.com Rachael Scharrer said any relationship in which people considered themselves to be committed in some way, without being related to each other, can be de facto.

"There's no timeline and there's no minimum time period," she told Ryk Goddard on ABC Radio Hobart.

"As long as you and your partner consider yourselves in a considered or committed relationship, and as long as other people recognise that, then you're in a de facto relationship."

By law, you do not even have to live full time with the person you are in a relationship with for it to count as de facto.

"There's a relationship called de facto by distance," Ms Scharrer said.

"Which means that even though you may not be living together exclusively and full time, as long as you stay in each other's house or home when you're in each other's local space, then you're definitely considered in a de facto relationship."

50-50 split?

De facto couples have most of the same rights as married couples under Australian law, and that means they can often face the same issues when the relationship sours — like who gets to keep what.

"One of the myths is that people feel that at the end of the [de facto] relationship they don't need to split assets," she said.

"Just because assets might be in one person's name doesn't mean that the other partner can't make a claim on those assets, and it's also not [necessarily] split 50-50 at the end either."

The break-up of a de facto couple is looked at by the court in a similar way to a marriage. ( 1233 ABC Newcastle: Robert Virtue )

While there is no legal contract of marriage to dissolve when a de facto relationship ends, just about everything else about the split is the same.

"Most endings of de facto relationships do need to go through a formalised uncoupling as some people call it," Ms Scharrer said.

"If there's no formal agreement at the end of a de facto relationship, then one of the couple may make a claim on the finances or assets for up to two years [after the split]."

Ms Scharrer said many states in Australia recommended couples in de facto relationships register with Births, Deaths and Marriages to have proof of their commitment, but this is not legally needed to give you de facto couple rights.

Children involved in a de facto relationship, whether they are related to both partners or not, have the same rights as children from married couples and the Family Court will make decisions regarding custody rights.

And the breakup of a de facto relationship can get just as nasty as a failed marriage, so getting legal advice might be your best option.

"At the end of any relationship some people do turn quite sour and can be nasty," Ms Scharrer said.

"Every separation, every break-up is so different and there are so many unique situations and elements to their relationships that only a legal professional will be able to advise specifically on their situation."