Property Division in Short Relationships
Property Division in Short Relationships:
What Gold Coast Couples Should Know
If your relationship was relatively brief—whether as a marriage or de facto partnership—you may be asking how property is divided when it ends. Short relationships often raise unique questions: smaller asset pools, property one partner owned before meeting, and different views on what’s fair.
This guide explains how Australian family law approaches short relationships, the role of case law, and the steps you can take to protect yourself on the Gold Coast.
What Counts as a Short Relationship?
The law doesn’t provide a fixed definition of “short relationship,” but in practice it usually means less than five years—sometimes much shorter. The rules apply to both marriages and de facto relationships.
For de facto couples, the law is stricter: if the relationship was under two years, you may not qualify for a property settlement unless you have a child together or one partner made a substantial contribution. Contributions are not just financial—they may include running the household, helping with a business, or supporting career development.
Courts often start with the idea that each person keeps what they brought in, unless contributions or circumstances point to a different outcome.
The Legal Process Step by Step
Even in a short partnership, the court works through a familiar five-step framework:
1. Identify and value assets and debts
You both must disclose everything, including pre-relationship and post-separation assets. Full financial disclosure is essential; hiding or omitting assets can damage credibility and affect the outcome. Independent valuations may also be needed to ensure accuracy, particularly for property or superannuation.
2. Consider whether orders are necessary
Courts won’t step in unless it’s “just and equitable” to do so. In short relationships, sometimes no division is required. The court first decides if intervention is appropriate, which often depends on whether any real pooling of assets or liabilities occurred.
3. Look at contributions
This covers money invested, unpaid work, childcare, and emotional or professional support. The court is careful to see if contributions were above the ordinary. In short relationships, financial inputs are often easier to trace, so the focus may shift to recognising non-financial or indirect contributions that still created long-term benefits.
4. Assess future needs
Children, health issues, or financial disadvantage may influence the outcome even after a short time together. For example, a partner who paused their career or is the primary carer of a young child may require additional consideration to ensure fairness moving forward.
5. Reach a fair result
This may mean no property adjustment at all, or it could mean rebalancing assets to reflect fairness. The aim is not strict equality but fairness, which means outcomes can vary significantly depending on the circumstances of the relationship.
Key Cases that Guide Short Relationship Settlements
📘 Stanford v Stanford (2012)
This High Court case is a cornerstone of modern family law. It confirmed that before the court makes any property settlement order, it must first ask: is an order necessary, and would it be just and equitable? In short relationships, where couples may have kept finances largely separate and lived independently, that threshold question often becomes decisive. If the court finds that each party can fairly walk away with what they already have, it may decide not to intervene at all.
📘 G & G (2006)
In this case, the court dealt with a marriage that lasted less than five years. Instead of applying a broad percentage division across the couple’s total asset pool, the court preferred an “asset-by-asset” approach. This means each person typically retains what they brought into the relationship, with only limited adjustments for proven contributions during the short marriage. It highlights how the duration of a relationship can influence whether the court applies a sweeping split or a more itemised, contribution-based method.
Why Short Relationships Need Special Care
- Smaller asset pools – Often, there are no big joint investments, so courts decide whether property was truly shared.
- Recognition of sacrifices – Non-financial contributions like relocating or pausing your career matter, even if the finances look one-sided.
- Pre-relationship assets – Property owned before usually stays with that person, unless it became part of the shared pool.
- Simpler process – Because the asset pool is limited, courts often deal with matters more quickly, using an asset-by-asset approach.
Common Gold Coast Scenarios
- De facto for 18 months, no children – Shared rent and chores don’t usually create grounds for a settlement. You’ll likely each keep what you brought in.
- Marriage of three years with a child and a house – The court may divide the property with attention to contributions and childcare responsibilities.
Supporting a partner’s studies – If you gave up work to support your partner through university in a short relationship, the court may recognise this as a significant contribution, even if the relationship was brief.
What Steps Should You Take?
- Get advice early – A Gold Coast family lawyer can assess whether you’re entitled to a settlement.
- Collect documents – Keep records of bank accounts, superannuation, property, and evidence of non-financial contributions.
- Stay realistic – Adjustments are often modest when the relationship was brief.
- Consider mediation – Negotiating outside of court can save time, money, and stress.
Be strategic with overlapping assets – If pre-relationship property supported the relationship (like paying bills or housing), consider negotiating recognition of that.
FAQs About Short Relationships
Is there a minimum length for a property settlement?
Not in law. But de facto relationships under two years usually need children or substantial contributions to qualify. The court looks at whether the relationship created obligations or contributions that deserve recognition. Even if the relationship was short, the presence of children or major sacrifices by one partner can allow the court to make property orders.
Can short relationships still lead to claims?
Yes. Children or big financial or non-financial contributions can create valid claims, even after a short time. For example, if one person made a large financial investment in property or significantly supported the other’s career, the court may adjust the asset pool. The key is whether fairness requires recognition of those contributions, regardless of how brief the relationship was.
What about property owned before the relationship?
Generally, it remains yours—unless it was used for the benefit of the relationship, such as purchasing a shared home. If pre-relationship assets were applied toward shared goals, the court may consider them as part of the property pool. However, they usually carry more weight for the original owner, especially in short partnerships where joint contributions were minimal.
Can the court step in if one party disagrees?
Yes. The court can make orders if fairness requires it, even if one person objects. Its role is to ensure a just outcome, particularly if there are children or major contributions involved. While parties are encouraged to negotiate or mediate first, the court remains the final decision-maker when agreement cannot be reached.
Final Thoughts for Gold Coast Couples
Short relationships can be tricky. While some end with no need for property division, others involve shared property, children, or significant sacrifices that must be recognised.
If you’re in this situation, act early, get advice, and keep good records. At Collective Family Law, we help Gold Coast clients approach these matters with clarity and fairness—so even a short relationship doesn’t leave long-term uncertainty.
Book a consultation here with Collective Family Law Group
Contact us today to make an appointment to discuss your family law matters, or for further information on how we can assist you so that you can move on with your life with certainty and security.