How does a de facto family differ from a married couple?

A de facto family refers to a couple who lives together in a committed relationship akin to marriage, but without the formal legal recognition that comes with marriage. The distinction lies primarily in the legal status; while married couples have certain rights and responsibilities codified by law, de facto couples are recognized only under specific conditions, which may differ by jurisdiction.

The correct answer indicates that for a relationship to be recognized as de facto, there is typically a requirement for the couple to cohabit for a specified duration, which is often around one year. This cohabitation shows a commitment similar to that of a married couple and can lead to legal recognition of their relationship in various contexts, such as property rights and parental responsibilities.

In contrast, the other choices do not accurately represent the nature of de facto relationships. A legal marriage is not a requirement for children; individuals in a de facto relationship can have children just as married couples can. Likewise, there are no prohibitions against having or adopting children for de facto couples—in fact, in many regions, de facto couples may have the same rights to adopt as married couples, assuming they meet other legal criteria.