Two individuals are considered to be related when they are spouses or are related by blood, marriage or adoption.

For example, you are related to:

• your spouse
• your or your spouse's child, grandchild, brother or sister
• your brother or sister's spouse, or the spouse of your spouse's brother or sister
• your or your spouse's mother, father or other direct ascendant

Your niece, nephew, aunt and uncle are not considered to be related to you (exceptions apply).

Spouse

Your spouse is a person who, when the home was acquired, was married to or living in a civil union with you, or was your de facto spouse.

A de facto spouse is a person who:

• lives in a conjugal relationship with you and is the biological or adoptive parent (legally or in fact) of a child of whom you are also the parent; or
• has been living in a conjugal relationship with you for at least 12 consecutive months.

The 12-month period is considered not to have been interrupted if you were separated for fewer than 90 days.