Substantial contributions in a de facto relationship

substantial contributions de facto relationship

If a person makes substantial contributions during a de facto relationship and the relationship comes to an end fairly quickly, that person may still have a claim for property settlement against the former partner depending upon the effect on that person if orders for final property division were not made.

Under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), a court may make an order for division of property only in there has been a de facto relationship of at least 2 years’ duration or if there is a child of the relationship. Even neither of those requirements is met, a court may still make a final property order if the party who applies to the court for final orders for property division made substantial contributions and a failure of the court to make an order for final property division would result in serious injustice to the applicant.

The contributions that are considered are direct or indirect financial contributions to the acquisition, conservation or improvement of property belonging to either or both of the parties or non- financial contributions.   Contributions
made directly or indirectly by a party to the welfare of the family and as homemaker or parent are also considered.

Contact us! Our family lawyers Brisbane or family lawyers Brisbane Northside for advice regards your de facto relationship and if you were with your former partner for less than 2 years or if you did not have children together, whether contributions that you have made will be considered “substantial contributions” at law. We can help you resolve any family law issues, whether for family law property settlement, parenting arrangements or other family law areas. You are also welcome to read on……

In Adesso & Payton [2019], before the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, the applicant (Ms. A) sought a declaration that there was a de facto relationship within the meaning of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth).  Ms A needed that declaration so that she could bring her case in the family courts seeking final orders for property settlement. Ms A and Mr P had been in a de facto relationship from August 2016 until December 2017. Although Ms A had a child X from a former relationship, she and Mr P did not have children together.

Unfortunately for Ms A however, the court found that there were no grounds for the court to make the declaration that she sought.  She had not made substantial contributions and the court did not consider that there would be a serious injustice to her where no property orders were made.

The court relied upon a previous case to say that substantial contributions must be something more than usual or ordinary contributions.

Whilst Ms A had made contributions such as towards the gardening of a property and domestic duties, in the context of a short relationship where there was no child of the relationship, the court did not think that her contributions could be considered anything other than ordinary and usual. They could not be considered substantial contributions.

As the court did not consider that Ms A would succeed in obtaining an order for final property division even if she were allowed to proceed with her claim,  neither did the court consider that there was any serious injustice to her  in the court deciding not to make any declaration as to a de facto relationship.

Our Brisbane family lawyers and our North Brisbane family lawyers are ready to assist you. Call us on 07 3506 3651. Our goal is to assist our clients to reach agreement with their former partner without the need to go to Court. If however court action becomes necessary, we have the experience to represent you at Court.

The information set out in this blog is not a substitute for legal advice. We recommend that you obtain advice tailored to your particular circumstances from LGM family lawyers Brisbane.