Property (Relationships) Act 1976 No 166 (as at 18 May 2009), Public Act

44C Compensation for property disposed of to trust
  • (1) This section applies if the court is satisfied—

    • (a) that, since the marriage, the civil union, or the de facto relationship began, either or both spouses or partners have disposed of relationship property to a trust; and

    • (b) that the disposition has the effect of defeating the claim or rights of one of the spouses or partners; and

    • (c) that the disposition is not one to which section 44 applies.

    (2) If this section applies, the court may make 1 or more of the following orders for the purpose of compensating the spouse or partner whose claim or rights under this Act have been defeated by the disposition:

    • (a) an order requiring one spouse or partner to pay to the other spouse or partner a sum of money, whether out of relationship property or separate property:

    • (b) an order requiring one spouse or partner to transfer to the other spouse or partner any property, whether the property is relationship property or separate property:

    • (c) an order requiring the trustees of the trust to pay to one spouse or partner the whole or part of the income of the trust, either for a specified period or until a specified amount has been paid.

    (3) The court must not make an order under subsection (2)(c) if—

    • (a) an order under subsection (2)(a) or (b) would compensate the spouse or partner; or

    • (b) a third person has in good faith altered that person's position—

      • (i) in reliance on the ability of the trustees to distribute the income of the trust in terms of the instrument creating the trust; and

      • (ii) in such a way that it would be unjust to make the order.

    (4) The court may make 1 or more orders under subsection (2) if it considers it just to do so, having regard to—

    • (a) the value of the relationship property disposed of to the trust:

    • (b) the value of the relationship property available for division:

    • (c) the date or dates on which relationship property was disposed of to the trust:

    • (d) whether the trust gave consideration for the property, and if so, the amount of the consideration:

    • (e) whether the spouses or partners, or either of them, or any child of the marriage, civil union, or de facto relationship, is or has been a beneficiary of the trust:

    • (f) any other relevant matter.

    Section 44C: inserted, on 1 February 2002, by section 51 of the Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 5).

    Section 44C(1)(a): amended, on 26 April 2005, by section 3(1) of the Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 19).

    Section 44C(1)(a): amended, on 26 April 2005, by section 3(4) of the Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 19).

    Section 44C(1)(b): amended, on 26 April 2005, by section 3(1) of the Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 19).

    Section 44C(2): amended, on 26 April 2005, by section 3(2) of the Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 19).

    Section 44C(2)(a): amended, on 26 April 2005, by section 3(2) of the Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 19).

    Section 44C(2)(b): amended, on 26 April 2005, by section 3(2) of the Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 19).

    Section 44C(2)(c): amended, on 26 April 2005, by section 3(2) of the Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 19).

    Section 44C(3)(a): amended, on 26 April 2005, by section 3(2) of the Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 19).

    Section 44C(4)(e): substituted, on 26 April 2005, by section 3(4) of the Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 19).