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Where am I now? Lawlink > Law Reform Commission > Publications > Report 36 (1983) - De Facto Relationships

Report 36 (1983) - De Facto Relationships


Table of Contents

 

Participants

Summary of Principal Recommendations

Preface

 

Part I: Introduction

 

CHAPTER 1. THE REFERENCE

I. Terms of Reference


    A. The Reference

    B. Scope of the Reference

    C. Terminology


II. Conduct of the Reference

    A. The Issues Paper

    B. Consultations

    C. Research

    D. Liaison with the Family Law Council

    E. Draft Legislation


III. The Structure of this Report

 

CHAPTER 2. THE CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND

I. A Fragmented System of Family Law


    A. The Constitutional Allocation of Power

    B. An Unconventional View


II. The Family Law Act 1975

III. The Reference of Powers


    A. Background to the Proposal

    B. The Proposal


 

Part II: The Social Context

 

CHAPTER 3. DE FACTO RELATIONSHIPS: SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS

I. Introduction

II. Statistical Information


    A. The Sources of Statistical Information

    B. Increase in De Facto Cohabitation in Australia, 1971-1982, and some International Comparisons


      1. The Rate of Cohabitation

      2. Cohabitation and Marital Status


    C. Community attitudes Towards Cohabitation: Australia 1971-1981

    D. Summary

    E. Some Reasons for the Increase


III. De Facto Partners in 1982: Demographic Information

    A. Cohabitation and Age

    B. Duration of the Relationship

    C. The Presence of Children

    D. Educational Qualifications

    E. Birth-Place and Religion

    F. The New South Wales Figures

    G. Conclusions


IV. The Socio-Economic Position of De Facto Partners

    A. The Presence of Dependent Children in the Family

    B. Labour Force Status: De Facto Partners, Married Couples and Never Married People

    C. Categories of De Facto Relationships

    D. De Facto Partners and Income Distribution

    E. Housing Occupancy

    F. Policy Implications


V. The Nature of Legal Problems

    A. The Need for Information

    B. Survey of Legal Practitioners

    C. Survey of Welfare Workers

    D. Conclusions from the Surveys

    E. Analysis of Case Studies

    F. The Experiences of Chamber Magistrates

    G. Conclusions


 

Part III: Current and Future Policy

 

CHAPTER 4. CURRENT LAW AND POLICY

I. Introduction

II. Law and Public Policy

III. Commonwealth Legislation


    A. The Social Security System

      1. The General Philosophy

      2. Early Moves

      3. Widows' Pensions

      4. Age and Invalid Pensions

      5. Unemployment and Sickness Benefits

      6. Supporting Parents’ Benefit

      7. The Cohabitation Rule


    B. Proceedings Under the Family Law Act

      1. Responsibilities to Other Persons

      2. Financial Circumstances of Cohabitation

      3. Other Circumstances


    C. Commonwealth Income Tax

    D. Commonwealth Superannuation Fund

    E. Other Commonwealth Legislation


IV. New South Wales Legislation

    A. Anti-Discrimination

    B. Workers’ Compensation

    C. Family Provision

    D. Domestic Violence

    E. Criminal Injuries Compensation

    F. Superannuation


V. Summary

 

CHAPTER 5. POLICY QUESTIONS

I. Introduction

II. Should the Law be Changed?


    A. The Question

    B. The Need for Change


      1. Extent of De Facto Cohabitation

      2. Injustices and Deficiencies in the Law

      3. Acceptance of the Need for Change

III. Models for Change

    A. Equating De Facto Relationships and Marriages

    B. Rights on Proof of Dependence

    C. Equating De Facto Relationships and Marriages for Certain Purposes

    D. Remedying Injustices in Specific Areas


IV. Assessment of Three Models

    A. The First Option - Equating De Facto Relationships with Marriage

      1. The Argument in Favour of Equivalence

      2. The Argument Against Equivalence

      3. Conclusion


    B. The Second Option - Rights on Proof of Dependence

    C. The Third Option- Equating De Facto Relationships and Marriages for Certain Purposes


V. Our Approach: Remedying Injustice in Specific Areas

    A. The Approach

    B. Governing Principles


VI. Summary

 

Part IV: Financial Adjustment Between De Facto Partners

 

CHAPTER 6. THE BACKGROUND TO FINANCIAL ADJUSTMENT-DISPUTES BETWEEN MARRIED PERSONS

I. Introduction

II. The Development of Matrimonial Property Law


    A. Matrimonial Unity

    B. Separate Property

    C. Family Property


III. The Development of the Law of Maintenance

    A. The Common Law

    B. The Matrimonial Causes Act 1959

    C. The Family Law Act 1975

    D. A Changing Philosophy


IV. Interaction Between Property and Maintenance

V. Summary

 

CHAPTER 7. PROPERTY DISPUTES BETWEEN DE FACTO PARTNERS

I. The Current Law


    A. General Principles

    B. Allen v. Snyder

    C. Application of Allen v. Snyder

    D. Case Studies

    E. Other Doctrines


      1. Proprietary Estoppel

      2. Contractual Licences

      3. Quantum Meruit

II. Assessment of the Current Law

    A. The Deficiency in the Law

    B. The Submissions

    C. Surveys


III. The Position Elsewhere

    A. New Zealand

    B. Canada


IV. Proposals for Reform

    A. Recognition of Contributions

    B. An Adjustive Jurisdiction


V. Summary

 

CHAPTER 8. MAINTENANCE CLAIMS BETWEEN DE FACTO PARTNERS

I. The Current Law

II. Assessment of the Current Law


    A. The Deficiency in the Law

    B. Arguments Against Permitting Maintenance Claims


      1. The Need for Public Commitment

      2. Freedom of Choice

      3. Changing Role of Maintenance

      4. Social Security as the Primary Source of Support

III. The Position Elsewhere

    A. Canada

    B. New Zealand


IV. Proposals for Reform

    A. Two Specific Injustices

    B. A Restricted Power to Award Maintenance


      1. The Power

      2. Maximum Duration of Orders


    C. Criteria for the Assessment of Maintenance

      1. General Criteria

      2. Eligibility for Social Security

V. Summary

 

CHAPTER 9. THE NEW FINANCIAL ADJUSTMENT JURISDICTION

I. Invoking the New jurisdiction


    A. The Basic Requirements

      1. The Criteria

      2. The Specified Period

      3. The Definition of a De Facto Relationship

      4. A Separation Requirement?

      5. A Broader Issue


    B. Connection with New South Wales

      1. The Issue

      2. The Solution

      C. A Transitional Problem

II. Finalising the Relationship

    A. The “Clean Break” Principle

    B. A Time Limit


III. Powers of the Court

    A. General Powers

    B. Injunctions


IV. Interaction Between Applications for Adjustment of Property and for Maintenance

V. Competing Claims: Spouse and De Facto Partner

VI. Summary

 

CHAPTER 10. CONSEQUENTIAL MATTERS

I. Introduction

II. Claims by and Against Third Parties


    A. Claims by Third Parties

    B. Claims Against Third Parties


III. Prospective Entitlements

    A. The Problems

      1. Valuation of Superannuation Entitlements

      2. Adjustment of Prospective Entitlements


    B. Solutions

      1. Adjournment

      2. Deferment of Order

IV. Rights Under the General Law

V. Variation, Setting Aside and Termination of Orders


    A. Variation and Discharge

      1. Periodic Maintenance

      2. Orders for Transfer of Property and lump sum payments


    B. Setting Aside Orders

    C. Termination of Periodic Maintenance Orders


VI. Effect of a Party’s Death

    A. Introduction

    B. Applications for Adjustment of Property


      1. Death of (Potential) Respondent

      2. Death of (Potential) Applicant


    C. Applications for Maintenance

      1. Death of Respondent

      2. Death of Applicant

VII. Transactions to Defeat Claims

VIII. Stamp Duty on Transfer of Property

IX. Courts


    A. Allocation of jurisdiction

    B. Enforcement of Orders


X. Summary

 

CHAPTER 11. COHABITATION AGREEMENTS

I. Introduction

II. Application of the “Public Policy” Doctrine


    A. The Present Law

    B. The Arguments


      1. Arguments For Enforceability

      2. Arguments Against Enforceability


    C. The Position Elsewhere: Canada

    D. Recommendation


III. Cohabitation and Separation Agreements and Proceedings for Financial Adjustment

    A. Two Competing Policies

    B. The Making of the Agreement


      1. Safeguards

      2. A Duty of Disclosure


    C. The Effect of an Agreement

      1. A Certified Agreement

      2. A Non-Certified Agreement

      3. Illustrations


    D. Change of Circumstances after the Making of the Agreement

      1. Cohabitation Agreements

      2. Separation Agreements

      3. Revocation of Agreement

      4. Subsequent Marriage

IV. Enforcement of Cohabitation and Separation Agreements

V. Enforcement in the Event of Death


    A. Proceedings by the Personal Representative of a Deceased De Facto Partner

      1. Periodic Maintenance

      2. Transfer of Property or Payment of a Lump Sum


    B. Proceedings Against the Estate of a Deceased De Facto Partner

      1. Periodic Maintenance

      2. Transfer of Property or Payment of a Lump Sum

VI. Summary

 

Part V: Financial Adjustment on Death

 

CHAPTER 12. SUCCESSION ON DEATH

I. Introduction

II. Distribution on Intestacy


    A. The Purpose of the Intestacy Rules

    B. The Intestacy Rules

    C. De Facto Partners

    D. Intestacy Rules in Other Australian States


III. Family Provision

    A. New South Wales

    B. Other jurisdictions


IV. Policy Issues: Intestacy

    A. The Argument

      1. Freedom of Choice

      2. Claims of a Spouse

      3. Protection of the Family

      4. Injustice

      5. The Effect of Family Provision Legislation

V. Proposals

    A. The Deceased is Survived by a De Facto Partner and a Spouse and/or Children of Another Relationship

    B. The Deceased is Survived by a De Facto Partner, but Leaves Neither a Spouse Nor Children of Another Relationship

    C. Conclusion

    D. Right to Elect to 'Fake a Share of the “Matrimonial” Home

    E. Consequential Matters


      1. Right to Obtain Administration

      2. Valuation of Real Estate

      3. Interested Witnesses

      4. Multiple De Facto Partners

VI. Summary

 

CHAPTER 13. FATAL ACCIDENTS

I. Introduction

II. The Compensation to Relatives Act, 1897


    A. Actions for the Benefit of a De Facto Partner

      1. The Present Position

      2. The Position Elsewhere

      3. Recommendation


    B. Incidental Issues

      1. Conflicts of Interest

      2. The Duration of the De Facto Relationship

      3. Apportionment of Damages

      4. “Remarriage”

      The Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1944

III. Nervous Shock and Loss of Consortium

    A. Nervous Shock

    B. Loss of Consortium


IV. Summary

 

Part VI: Domestic Violence

 

CHAPTER 14. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENT

I. Introduction

II. Remedies Available to Married Persons and De Facto Partners in Respect of Domestic Violence


    A. Prosecutions for Assault

    B. Apprehended Violence Orders under Section 547 of the Crimes Act 1900

    C. The Crimes (Domestic Violence) Amendment Act, 1982

    D. Supreme Court Injunctions

    E. Injunctions under the Family Law Act 1975

    F. Summary of Legal Position


III. Assessment of the Law

    A. The Submissions (Before the 1982 Act)

    B. Remaining Issues


      1. A Civil Jurisdiction

      2. Molestation and Harassment

      3. Conclusions

IV. Recommendations

    A. The Supreme Court

      1. Orders for Personal Protection

      2. Enforcement


    B. Local Courts

      1. Molestation and Harassment

      2. A Drafting Problem

V. Summary

 

Part VII: Children

 

CHAPTER 15. PARENTS AND CHILDREN

I. Custody, Guardianship and Maintenance of Children


    A. Introduction

    B. Commonwealth and State jurisdiction


      1. Jurisdiction under the Family Law Act

      2. State Jurisdiction


    C. The Law of Custody and Guardianship

      1. Commonwealth Law: The Family Law Act

      2. State Law


    D. Child Maintenance

      1. Commonwealth Law: The Family Law Act

      2. State Law


    E. The Divided Jurisdiction

      1. The Problems

      2. Solutions

      3. Conclusion


    F. State Law: Summary of issues for Resolution

II. Adoption

    A. Adoption by De Facto Partners

    B. Consents


III. Summary

 

Part VIII: Miscellaneous

 

CHAPTER 16. OTHER LEGISLATION

I. Introduction

II. Particular Issues


    A. Non-Compellability of Witnesses

    B. Marital Communications

    C. Landlord and Tenant Act, 1899

    D Mental Health Legislation

    E. Insurance Act, 1902

    F. Superannuation

    G. Miscellaneous Legislation


 

Part IX: Definition

 

CHAPTER 17. THE PROBLEM OF DEFINITION

I. A Uniform Definition

II. A Basic Definition


    A. The Suggested Definition

    B. The Interpretation

    C. Some Special Cases


      1. Concurrent De Facto Relationships

      2. The Duration and Continuity of the Relationship


    D. Recommendation

III. Declarations

IV. Summary

 

DRAFT LEGISLATION

 

APPENDICES

I. Submissions Received

II. Seminars

III. Discussions with People and Organisations Making Submissions

IV. Community Attitudes Towards De Facto Relationships

 

TABLE OF STATUTES

TABLE OF CASES

LIST OF TABLES

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX



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