back from these bodies before the deceased partner is buried. Amendment of a death certificate The Relationships Declaration will be accepted as partial evidence towards proving that your de facto relationship existed with the deceased. At the very least, the Relationships Declaration proves that at some time in your lives you had a close personal relationship with the deceased. The Declaration does not prove that the relationship existed at the time of death – you can produce other evidence to show this. Any de facto relationship (or marriage) that the deceased had may be listed on their death certificate (not only the one at the time of death). Immigration There is at least one case of the Relationships Declaration being used successfully at the Chinese Embassy, in the case of an opposite-sex (heterosexual) relationship – where the partners did not have the opportunity to marry before immigration to China. The Declaration was used for the purposes of family visa application. How many have formed a registered partnership in Sydney? Since 2004, both same-sex and mixed-sex couples can register, if both are unrelated, unmarried adults living in the City of Sydney. As of today, 224 opposite-sex and 77 same-sex couples had registered; 24 opposite-sex, 1 female same-sex couples and 9 male same-sex couples unregistered. Melbourne Since 2007, Melbourne also has a relationship register, which is very similar to that of Sydney. How many have entered a registered partnership in Melbourne? Since 2007, both same-sex and opposite-sex couples can register a partnership, if both are unrelated, unwed adults living in the City of Melbourne. As of today, ninety opposite-sex and eight same-sex couples have registered; four opposite-sex have unregistered, no same-sex couples have unregistered as yet. See also Same-sex marriage in Australia External links City of Sydney Relationship Declaration Program City of Melbourne Relationship Declaration Program 2004 in Australia Culture of Sydney