Property Settlement – Rights and Entitlement
Understanding Property Settlement
Property settlement occurs when parties have separated and they wish to divide their property, liabilities, and financial resources between them. There are three pathways in which a legal property settlement can be completed in Australia.
- Entitlement to Property Settlement
- Time to Undertake Property Settlement
- The Division of Property Settlement
When it comes to your property and superannuation, it is never wise to make assumptions or to leave your property settlement to chance. The laws around property settlement are complex and legal advice from a property settlement lawyer, commonly known as a family lawyer, can ensure that you and your loved one’s interests are protected. Our lawyers are focused on the preservation of your family’s wealth, the avoidance of unnecessary costs and the conclusion of a property settlement that reflects what is fair according to the laws of Australia.
What are Family Law Property Settlement Rights?
Family law property settlement rights are rights that flow from the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth). These rights begin when certain conditions are met after parties in a relationship separate. Family law property settlement rights provide that property between the parties be divided fairly.
A family law property settlement does not happen automatically and having an experienced team of lawyers behind you can make all the difference. We know firsthand how challenging separation can be for you and your loved ones, especially where parties have differing opinions on their rights and entitlements. Despite these challenges, our lawyers work with you to negotiate fair terms of settlement wherever reasonable and possible given your instructions. Our lawyers are trained and committed to your welfare and to removing barriers preventing you from a fair property settlement. If you are separating, we are here to help you safeguard your future.
Property settlement if handled properly can provide you with peace of mind and security knowing that your interests were honoured and protected on fair terms. Unfortunately, not all property settlements are handled well and some settlements result in the destruction of family wealth and opportunity, which can affect your relationship with your loved ones. Our goal is to minimise the negative impacts that separation can have on the family unit. We use our experience and knowledge of the law to assist you with objective advice. We provide comprehensive advice on property brought into your relationship, property accumulated during the relationship, property accumulated after the relationship has ended and before your property settlement has been completed and superannuation (except in Western Australia where de facto property settlement cannot divide superannuation).
We know there are a lot of considerations to a property settlement, and that the decisions you make in your property settlement can affect your retirement and future generations. So, to help you make sense of this process, we provide a free 30-minute property settlement consultation with one of our property settlement lawyers. Call us today on 0485 872 417 to book a consultation.
Are you Entitled to Property Settlement?
While this question may seem straightforward, there are many considerations and exceptions to each party’s eligibility and proportion of their property settlement. Most people would not sign a contract without understanding what they are agreeing to, and your property settlement should be no different. So, make sure you know your rights and entitlements before you consider or agree to a property settlement.
General property settlement eligibility
If you answer yes, to any of the following questions, it is likely that you have the lawful right to undertake property settlement subject to any time limits (discussed below) that exist:
Marriages
Were you married to the partner you are separating from?
Did either you or your spouse:
Provide any significant contributions including but not limited to financial contributions and/or caring contributions during the marriage?
Have children from the marriage together?
Have special needs or require financial support, for example, because you or your spouse are on a social security payment or pension?
How and when can I apply for Divorce?
To apply for a divorce, the marriage must have broken down irretrievably. This means that one or both parties believe the marital relationship has ended permanently. In addition to this requirement, before an application for divorce can be made you must be separated for at least 12 months.
Same-sex De Facto Relationships
- Were you in a same-sex de facto relationship for more than 2 years?
- Were you living together in a genuine relationship for more than 2 years?
- Did either you or your estranged partner:
- Provide any significant contributions including but not limited to financial contributions and/or caring contributions during the relationship?
- Have children together?
- Have special needs or require financial support, for example, because you or your de facto partner are on a social security payment or pension?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you are likely to have property settlement rights. In some cases, even if you answered no, you could still be eligible to undertake property settlement. For specific legal advice about your circumstances, speak to one of our property settlement lawyers today.
How Long do I have to Undertake Property Settlement?
Marriages
If you are married and separated (but not divorced), you can undertake property settlement at any time. Please note, if you have been separated for a long time your property settlement rights can be affected by the delay in the property settlement. In some cases, there may be no grounds for property settlement after a long period of time. If you have separated and not undertaken property settlement for a long period of time, call one of our property settlement lawyers today for a discussion about your property settlement rights.
If you are married and get a divorce, you have 12 months from the date of your divorce order to undertake a property settlement through a Court. If you are outside of the 12 month time limit, there may be exceptions that still allow you to complete property settlement through court action. Speak to one of our property settlement lawyers for an assessment on your eligibility to undertake property settlement.
De Facto Relationships, including Same-Sex De Facto Relationships
If you were in a de facto relationship, you have a two-year window to finalise your property settlement through Court action, from the date of separation. After the two-year period, there are limits and extra requirements that must be reviewed and met if you intend to give effect to your property settlement. Our property settlement lawyers can assess your rights and entitlements. We can also determine whether you are still eligible to undertake a property settlement through a Court action outside the two-year time limit.
How is the Property Settlement Worked Out?
The circumstances of each relationship are unique and require careful consideration of numerous factors. Only after these factors have been considered can a fair assessment of property settlement rights be made. That’s why it’s important to speak to one of our experienced property settlement lawyers for a full assessment of what would be a fair division of the property.
Some of the factors that go into working out a fair property settlement include:
- Property brought into the relationship by either party including:
- Cash, jewellery and inheritance etc.
- House, land, property, cars, shares etc.
- Businesses, trusts and property rights etc.
- Contributions made during the relationship whether directly or indirectly including:
- Income earned and or contributed during the relationship
- Employment income contributions by either party
- Contributions to the domestic duties or being a homemaker including cooking, cleaning and other household duties by either party
- Caring duties including:
- Caring for the children from the relationship
- Caring for the child or children of the other party where the children are from another relationship
- Caring for a family member, disabled child or disabled adult
- Caring for another person who required care including the other partner
- Contributions made after the relationship which can include:
- Property given or taken during the relationship or after separation
- Money given or taken during the relationship or after separation.
- Inheritance received by either party
- Contributions made by someone on a party’s behalf such as parents giving an interest-free loan or a gift of money toward a house
- Improvements made to property by either party
- Child support assessment(s)
- Child support contributions and contributions made for the children
- How the property settlement might affect the earning capacity of a party
- The age of each party
- The state of health and/or special needs of each party
- The physical and/or mental capacity of each party
- The income earning capacity of each party
- The employment circumstances of each party
- Whether a party has the care or control of a child from the relationship who is not 18 years of age
- The commitments of each party to support themselves
- Any responsibilities owed by a party to support any other person
The above is not an exhaustive list of the factors that can be considered in a property settlement. There are many factors that can affect a property settlement, which is why it is important to speak to one of our property settlement lawyers to ensure you are getting qualified legal advice. Our property settlement lawyers can tell you about the factors that will affect your property settlement, and how the factors are weighed to determine what is a fair property settlement.
Family Help Resources
Parenting rights after separation
Having trouble coping during a property settlement?
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