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SPOUSAL MAINTENANCE
SPOUSAL MAINTENANCE
Spousal maintenance issues only apply to people who are or were married. A
“spouse” is a husband or wife and does not include de-facto partners. Spousal
maintenance is the payment of maintenance to a husband or wife by a wife or
husband. The relevant law is contained in the Family Law Act 1975. It sets out
when one spouse must pay maintenance to the other spouse.
A party to marriage is liable to maintain (that is financially support) the
other party to the extent that he or she is reasonably able to do so if, and
only if, the other party is unable to support herself or himself adequately
whether:
- by reason of having the care and control of the child of
the marriage who has not attained the age of 18 years;
- by reason of age or physical or mental incapacity for
appropriate gainful employment; or
- for any other adequate reason,
having regard to any relevant matter referred to in Section 75(2) of the
Family Law Act.
Initially the obligation is on the applicant to persuade the court that he or
she is in need of spousal maintenance. Often orders made in relation to spousal
maintenance are of limited duration, eg whilst the spouse retrains so as to
obtain employment or whilst a child is very young.
Spousal maintenance can take a number of forms including the payment of a
periodic sum or the transfer of property or chattels. These orders may be made
at the same time that orders are made for property settlement, that is, orders
for the adjustment of the parties’ property and assets between themselves. It is
necessary in that event to specify what if any part of any payment of a lump
sum, or transfer or settlement of property relates to spousal maintenance and
the value that is attributable to the provision of maintenance.
Spousal maintenance orders continue until parties remarry (except in special
circumstances) or upon the death of the person entitled to receive the
maintenance or the death of the person required to make the payments. If
somebody is receiving spousal maintenance, that person is obliged under the
Family Law Act to inform the payer without delay of his or her remarriage. If
monies have been paid after remarriage, then they may be recovered through the
Family Court.
FURTHER INFORMATION
This Information Outline is provided courtesy of Grech Partners
Solicitors & Barristers who are experienced in this area of law. They are located at
Inglewood Business Centre, Norwest Business Park, Suites 41 & 42, 5 Inglewood
Place, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153 or call them on (02) 9851 2500 if you would like
more information on this legal topic, or you wish to obtain formal advice
regarding your situation.
Over the last 31 years of practice Grech Partners Solicitors, along with
their dedicated and committed support staff, have developed a holistic approach
to all their clients seeking legal representation. The firm was initially
established in 1971 consisting of one solicitor and a secretary. The firm has
evolved to include a number of solicitors each with their own area of expertise.
During their years of practice Grech Partners has represented a broad sector of
the community ranging from individuals, families, multicultural groups,
corporate clients to publicly listed companies as well as banking institutions
with bases locally and overseas.
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