Relationship Property - what your clients need to know 2025 - Legal Executives - On Demand

Package includes:

On Demand Module  | Electronic booklet  |  PowerPoint Presentation

Note: Access to the online files is via your "My CPD" page. If you would like to purchase multiple packages, please contact us here.

On Demand Module

Couples can make their own agreements about how relationship property will be divided, and what property will be ringfenced as their separate property. Legal executives are frequently involved in matters of relationship property, working alongside lawyers, handling a range of tasks such as property transactions, drafting deeds, property sharing agreements and advising clients on loan agreements. Legal executives are often the first point of contact and provide the initial advice.

This module will touch on the following important topics you need to be aware of:

• What clients need to be aware of with contracting out agreements
• The importance of trust account statements and how they can be used as evidence in relationship property matters
• Conflict of interest.

Learning objectives

After completing this module you will understand:

• What clients need to be aware of when it comes to contracting out agreements.
• The importance of trust account statements and how they can be used as evidence.
• How to recognise potential conflicts of interest.

Electronic paper 

Author: Yoonha Park
Published: 2 September 2025
Pages: 10

Introduction

Lawyers and legal executives work closely to ensure the client’s affairs are properly structured. Every transaction that involves a relationship governed by the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 (PRA) is subject to its principles unless there is an express contrary intention.

To ensure that informed choices are made by clients in property and business transactions, and appropriate documentation is in place, it is necessary for all advisers to have a good working knowledge as to:

• what relationship property is;
• when property is classified as separate property;
• when and how separate property can become relationship property.

It is important to be alert and aware of the impact and significance of the PRA to the transactions to which the Act applies in order to avoid unexpected outcomes for both client and adviser.

PowerPoint Presentation

These are the slides included in the presentation.