There are, broadly speaking, three main areas of family law: parenting matters, property matters, and divorce. The date of separation is important when discussing property matters and divorce.
For a divorce to be granted, the couple must have been separated for at least 12 months.
For property settlements, there are time limits that apply. If the couple has been married, a party must lodge an application within 12 months of the date of their divorce. Importantly, for de facto couples, an application must be lodged within two years of the date of separation.
In both of these circumstances, the Court must be satisfied about the date of separation in order to meet the requirements set out in the Family Law Act 1975.