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Co-Habitation Agreements

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Co-habitation Agreements, or de-facto relationship agreements, can be entered into by couples who are living together, or intending to live together, but who do not intend to get married. Those Agreements, which must be drafted in accordance with the legislative provisions of the Family Law Act, can be utilised by any couple, whether heterosexual or same-sex.

 
These Binding Financial Agreements, or BFAs, can be used to protect the assets an individual brings into a relationship, or assets that you may inherit, purchase or build up during a relationship. By setting out how all of the assets and liabilities are to be dealt with if the relationship should breakdown in the future you can avoid the emotional and financial expense of a property settlement dispute.
 
People who are living together, but who are not a couple, can also make an Agreement for the protection of their assets under the NSW Property (Relationships) Act 1984. These are called Domestic Relationship Agreements. A domestic relationship is defined as a de facto relationship or a close personal relationship between two adult persons whether or not related by family, who are living together, one or each of whom provides the other with domestic support and personal care.
 
Just as with Binding Financial Agreements under the Family Law Act, domestic relationship agreements must comply strictly with the legislation if they are to be enforceable. We have extensive experience in drafting agreements under the Property (Relationships) Act and the Family Law Act and will consider all aspects of your assets and circumstances to ensure your agreement affords you the best protection possible.
 
Call one of our Family Lawyers for free initial telephone advice on your circumstances on 95258688.

Key People

sutherland shire lawyer greg dicksonGreg Dickson 

primary area of practice is litigation. In 1993, he became one of the first solicitors in New South Wales to achieve Accreditation as a Specialist in Family Law and Property Relationships Act Law. Greg is the head of our Family Law Division but also practices extensively in commercial and general litigation ...read more


sutherland shire lawyer kevin dwyerKevin Dwyer 

can advise you upon and conduct all Family Law and De Facto Relationship matters in the Family Courts at Sydney, Wollongong and Parramatta. Kevin can also assist you in Criminal Law and appear in Local Courts all over New South Wales in AVO and criminal proceedings as well as ...read more


Amanda DoringAmanda Doring 

is a Family Law Accredited Specialist with extensive experience drafting binding financial agreements and conducting urgent applications in the Family Court and Federal Magistrate’s Court as well as De Facto proceedings in the Supreme, District and Local Courts ...read more


Lisa O'Leary 

operates predominantly in the area of Family Law and De Facto Relationship dispute resolution in the Family Court, the Federal Magistrates Court, the Local and Supreme Court or by alternative dispute resolution procedures ...read more 


Nicola Morgan 

Nicola joined Warren McKeon Dickson in January 2009 as the recipient of the Warren McKeon Dickson Work Integrated Learning Scholarship offered in conjunction with the University of Wollongong.  ...read more