In Case Of Divorce, Who Gets What, Australia? If the parties cannot decide how the assets are to be decided, it's left up to the family court to decide. As per the law, there's no strict formula for a divorce settlement in Australia. Contrary to popular perception, there's no 50-50 split rule.
Most property proceedings result in a division of 55 to 65% in favour of the economically weaker spouse, historically the wife, before payment of legal fees. Nevertheless, the outcome of your property settlement will depend upon your practical circumstances, judicial determination in this field being discretionary.
Inheritance is unfortunately not a protected asset and can be considered a marital asset and part of the overall property pool that needs to be divided upon separation or divorce.
To apply for a divorce, you must have been separated for at least 12 months, and you or your spouse must: be an Australian citizen, or. live in Australia and regard Australia as your permanent home, or. ordinarily live in Australia and have done so for at least 12 months before the divorce application.
Essentially, super is considered as property in the event of a relationship breakdown, so like any other asset it can be divided between partners by agreement or court order. This includes marriage or de facto relationships, both heterosexual or same sex.
Superannuation is treated as property under the Family Law Act 1975 but it differs from other types of property because it is held in a trust. Superannuation splitting laws allow superannuation to be divided when a relationship breaks down.
Superannuation makes up a part of the asset pool, and so, if you find yourself wondering: Is my ex wife entitled to my superannuation? The short answer is yes. If you are married – after a divorce is finalised, your ex wife or partner is entitled to make a claim for your superannuation for up to a year.
The sole applicant will need to pay a fee to legal professionals, and additional fees to serve the application to their partner. In this case, the partner who is being served with an application for divorce will not need to pay any fees.
Under the Family Law Act 1975, a person has a responsibility to financially assist their spouse, or former de facto partner, if that person cannot meet their own reasonable expenses from their personal income or assets.
Applying for a divorce
Australia has a 'no-fault' divorce system. This means you don't have to say or prove that someone has behaved badly to apply for a divorce. The easiest way to apply for a divorce is to complete an online application on the Commonwealth Courts Portal. You need to register to use the Portal.
In summary, a wife in a divorce settlement in Australia is entitled to a fair and equitable share of the assets and property accumulated during the marriage. This may include a share of the family home, vehicles, savings, and investments, and any superannuation that has been accumulated during the marriage.
If the deceased person was survived by a spouse and no children, the spouse is entitled to the entire estate. If the deceased person was not survived by a spouse or children, the assets will be distributed to their next of kin.
In Australia, the family law system recognises that each party involved in a separation is entitled to a 'just and equitable share' of the matrimonial assets. When determining what property and/or assets each person is entitled to there are a range of factors that are to be considered.
What is grey divorce? This is a term coined for persons divorcing in their later years. However, some couples may not have married, but when separating in their later years, may fall under the de facto provisions of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth).
In Australia, a divorce takes about four months before it is officially granted by the court. This time is calculated using the date you first filed your application in court until the date when a divorce order is issued by the court.
While the Family Law Act 1975 contains provisions that make it harder for claims to be brought against an ex-spouse after twelve months from the date of a divorce (or two years after a de facto relationship separation), an ex-spouse's claim may still be possible, in either scenario.
The Family Court of Australia has clearly outlined the division of assets and property. As a general rule of thumb, marital properties are divided in half. Each item will not necessarily be split in half, rather each spouse will get different contents.
The Relationship's Duration
Depending on how long a couple has been married, there will be a substantial difference in how assets are divided in a divorce in Australia. Despite the fact that one spouse may have made a considerable financial contribution to the relationship, time erodes their contributions.
The amount of spousal maintenance that is payable is determined by considering a range of factors, including: The income, expenses, and financial resources of each spouse. The age and health of each spouse. The care arrangements for any children of the marriage.
The average cost of a divorce in Australia is variable and can be anywhere between $330 and $1,405, plus the cost of legal representation. It depends on whether the separating parties file for divorce with or without legal representation, and the complexity of the divorce itself.
Application for divorce
To file for a divorce in Australia, you need to pay $940 to the court. However, you may be eligible for a reduced fee of $310. This is the minimum cost of any divorce.
If your ex-partner refuses to sell the house during your negotiations, you can petition the Family Court to intervene and force the sale of the house as part of a property settlement. In fact, this court process is the only way you can be forced to sell your house during a separation in Australia.
A 60/40 divorce split refers to a property settlement where one party gets 60% of the combined assets, while the other receives 40%. The combined assets of a couple are also known as the 'asset pool.
In Australia the law is not concerned with whose “fault” it is that the relationship broke down. You must be separated for a period of 12 months before applying to the court for a divorce. must apply for a property settlement within 2 years of the date of separation.
The superannuation splitting laws allow separating couples to value and divide their superannuation after a relationship break down. Under the laws, one partner may split the amount remaining in their superannuation fund and make a payment to the other partner's superannuation fund after separation.