If you have been in a de-facto relationship for 3 years or longer your relationship will be regarded as “long duration”. This means that property will be divided in accordance with the Property(Relationships) Act 1976 (“the Act”). Unless you enter into an agreement to contract out.
This means it may not matter who has their name on the title, or who has paid for things – it matters what the Act says is the correct division.
The family home will usually be regarded as relationship property.
In a long duration relationship, the money you have received as wages from your employer is regarded as relationship property and so will anything you have purchased or invested with it.
It is important to get advice as to how property will be divided under the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 if you separate or one of you dies.
