The law relating to divorce and property settlements now covers de facto relationships and demands the parties undertake dispute resolution before filing for divorce. The only ground for divorce is irretrievable marriage breakdown; certain conditions, for instance around separation, must be met.

Contributor

Noah Eidelson

Barrister

Property

Proceedings under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) (‘FL Act’) for matters relating to the property of a couple can begin in the Magistrates’ Court or in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (see ‘Which court can hear matters related to children?’ in ‘Parental responsibility for children‘).

Since 1 March 2009, the law permits people who have not been married but who have been in a relationship (including people in a same-sex relationship, which is regarded by the court as a de facto relationship) to apply for and obtain similar relief to that historically available to married people, in relation to the resolution of property and maintenance disputes. The parties need to have been in a relationship for two years (with exceptions) and separated after 1 March 2009.

For more information on this topic see Chapter 4.3: Same-sex and de facto couples and families.

Consideration of property matters may involve:

  1. The FL Act gives the court the power to make declarations about existing land titles or rights to property owned by the people, married or de facto, and to make allied orders (e.g. order the sale or partition or possession of property) to give effect to its decision.
  2. The court has the power to alter the property interests of a party. Following separation, there is no waiting time for the issue of a property application. If proceedings are started and one party dies, the action against the estate can be continued. The court may also adjourn proceedings taken for property settlement if a significant change in the financial circumstances of one or both of the parties is likely.
  3. Although the court is given a lengthy list of matters to be considered in the exercise of its powers, the remedy is discretionary and not limited by ordinary legal rights. The court is required to take into account a detailed number of matters including: 
  1. the financial contribution made directly or indirectly by or on behalf of a party or a child to the acquisition, conservation or improvement of the property;
  2. the contribution (other than a financial contribution) made directly or indirectly to the acquisition, conservation or improvement of the property by either party, including any contribution made in the capacity of homemaker or parent;
  3. the effect of the proposed order on the earning capacity of either party; and
  4. any other order made under the FL Act affecting a party.

4. The order for property may be set aside, varied or substituted if: 

  1. there has been a miscarriage of justice by reason of fraud, duress, suppression of evidence or giving of false evidence or any other circumstance;
  2. circumstances have arisen since the order was made that make it impractical for the order or part of the order to be carried out;
  3. the party has defaulted in carrying out an obligation and in the circumstances it is just and equitable to vary the order;
  4. there are circumstances of an exceptional nature relating to the welfare of the child and the applicant will suffer hardship if the order is:
  • not varied; or
  • all the parties to the proceedings give consent.

5. The court has a duty to determine the financial relations between the parties once and for all if this is possible.

6. An officer of the court may sign documents to give effect to court orders where a party neglects or refuses to comply with an order.

7. Section 85 deals with transactions intended to defeat claims under the Act.

8. Conveyances made under any maintenance agreement, deeds/orders made under Part VIII are normally not liable to stamp duty in Australia.

9. Rights of appeal must be commenced not later than one month after the day when the order is made. Further time may be granted at the discretion of the judge. Legal advice should always be obtained prior to agreeing to any consent order or agreement.

10. When the house is in the name of one party only, the other party may be able to have a caveat placed on the title to protect their interest in the house. A caveat is a legal document giving notice to potential purchasers or mortgagees of the other party’s interests.

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