Western Australia
De facto relationships are dealt with under the Family Law Act 1975 as a result in changes to the law in which all states and territories with the exception of Western Australia passed their power in relation to dealing with the division of property between de factos to the Commonwealth Government.
Family Court Act 1997 (WA): Section 205ZN
Financial agreements before beginning de facto relationship
(1) If —
(a) people who are contemplating entering into a de facto relationship with each other make a written agreement with respect to any of the matters mentioned in subsection (2); and
(b) at the time of the making of the agreement, no other agreement (whether made under this section or section 205ZO or 205ZP) is in force between the parties with respect to any of those matters; and
(c) the agreement is expressed to be made under this section,
the agreement is a financial agreement.
(2) The matters referred to in subsection (1)(a) are the following —
(a) how, in the event of the breakdown of the de facto relationship, all or any of the property or financial resources of either or both of them at the time when the agreement is made, or at a later time and before the breakdown of the relationship, is to be dealt with;
(b) the maintenance of either of them —
(i) during the de facto relationship; or
(ii) after the de facto relationship has ended; or
(iii) both during the de facto relationship and after the de facto relationship has ended.
(3) A financial agreement made as mentioned in subsection (1) may contain matters incidental or ancillary to those mentioned in subsection (2).
(4) A financial agreement made as mentioned in subsection (1) may terminate a previous financial agreement made as mentioned in that subsection, or former financial agreement, between the same parties.
Family Court Act 1997 (WA): Section 205ZO:
Financial agreements during de facto relationship — FLA s. 90C
(1) If —
(a) de facto partners in a de facto relationship make a written agreement with respect to any of the matters mentioned in subsection (2); and
(b) at the time of the making of the agreement, no other agreement (whether made under this section or section 205ZN or 205ZP) is in force between the partners with respect to any of those matters; and
(c) the agreement is expressed to be made under this section,
the agreement is a financial agreement.
(2) The matters referred to in subsection (1)(a) are the following —
(a) how, in the event of the breakdown of the de facto relationship, all or any of the property or financial resources of either or both of them at the time when the agreement is made, or at a later time and during the de facto relationship, is to be dealt with;
(b) the maintenance of either of them —
(i) during the de facto relationship; or
(ii) after the de facto relationship has ended; or
(iii) both during the de facto relationship and after the de facto relationship has ended.
(3) A financial agreement made as mentioned in subsection (1) may contain matters incidental or ancillary to those mentioned in subsection (2).
(4) A financial agreement made as mentioned in subsection (1) may terminate a previous financial agreement made as mentioned in that subsection, a financial agreement made as mentioned in section 205ZN(1), or a former financial agreement, between the same parties.
Family Court Act 1997 (WA): Section 205ZP:
Financial agreements after de facto relationship ends
(1) If —
(a) after a de facto relationship is ended, the parties to the former de facto relationship make a written agreement with respect to any of the matters mentioned in subsection (2); and
(b) at the time of the making of the agreement, no other agreement (whether made under this section or section 205ZN or 205ZO) is in force between the parties with respect to any of those matters; and
(c) the agreement is expressed to be made under this section,
the agreement is a financial agreement.
(2) The matters referred to in subsection (1)(a) are the following —
(a) how all or any of the property or financial resources that either or both of them had or acquired during the former de facto relationship is to be dealt with;
(b) the maintenance of either of them.
(3) A financial agreement made as mentioned in subsection (1) may contain matters incidental or ancillary to those mentioned in subsection (2).
(4) A financial agreement made as mentioned in subsection (1) may terminate a previous financial agreement made as mentioned in that subsection, a financial agreement made as mentioned in section 205ZN(1) or 205ZO(1), or a former financial agreement, between the same parties.
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