Tuesday, 12 February 2013

How to Start A Financial Agreement?

Before the ability to make Binding Financial Agreements (BFAs) was extended to same-sex and de facto relationships, when such a relationship had split up, each party would have had to arrange themselves for some long-winded and laborious litigation through the Supreme Court. Thank goodness, this has now all been modified with the introduction of section 90UD of the Family Law Act 1975 which specifically allows people in de facto relationships to agree upon what they contemplate to be a considerable division of property and money once the relationship has separated. Efficiently, this now puts de facto agreements in the same category as is already appreciated by husbands and wives. It implies that same-sex relationships are apportioned with the exact same rights to heterosexual couples and this will be observed as a welcome move by many gay rights groups that have been concerned and campaigning throughout these issues.

How Would You Go About Building A BFA In These Conditions? If a de facto, or same-sex relationship has split up irretrievably, s.90UD of the 1975 Act sets out that the following operations would need to be implemented for a court to recognise and apply a binding financial agreement. These are the following: They will have to guarantee that both sides seek professional and qualified legal advice. This is imperative and it should help to ensure that each party’s unique situation is assessed and legally commented upon. If gross unfairness can be identified within the agreement as it stands, the legal advisor will point this out to the relevant partner and they will then only go ahead and sign once they know precisely what they are agreeing to and/or possibly compromising.

A certificate must be received from the applicable legal professional which will attest to the point that this need has been pleased. It would then need to be put in as an ‘annex’ to the main written legal document which will constitute the BFA. The BFA will have to specify the scope of any relevant spousal maintenance to be provided. It will need to be signed by both people and a copy will be retained by each. Provided all of the steps have been taken above, the court should not scrutinise the BFA to make sure that it is just and equitable. The court would only tend to set a BFA aside if there were fundamental flaws with the documents (e.g. the BFA had been created in a fraudulent manner). It is also essential to note that a person can only enter into a BFA if they are not already party to such an agreement with someone else.

Swifter Conclusion at the end of a Relationship: The sort of post nuptial agreement should help to make certain that any financial matters are dealt with far more smoothly than they may otherwise be. Given, some time would be essential on both sides to conceive the binding financial agreement, but once a settlement is decided, the BFA will provide a far quicker resolution to the question of who gets what. Naturally, to a large scope, at the end of any relationship and at a time when communication between both sides may not be as manageable as it once was, a lot will rely on how fast an agreement can be completed. Nonetheless, it would probably end up being more prudent and affordable for the parties to settle the asset and financial risks in this way.

Whatever actions the members of a de facto relationship elect to take when things have separated, the fact remains that Australian law now provides them with these alternatives. Gone are the days where there was only very limited avenues that could be went after in order to settle such challenges. Such de facto agreements now exist to understand a swifter decision to the division of property and financial resources. 

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Wednesday, 14 November 2012

Binding Financial Agreement: Why Couples Need It To Safeguard Finances

Anyone entering into a marriage or de facto relationship in Australia may wish to draw up a legal agreement detailing how property and financial resources will be divided in the event of a divorce or relationship breakdown. This is referred to as a binding financial agreement in Australia although many refer to it as a separation agreement or a pre- or post-nuptial agreement. No matter what this agreement is called, as long as it is valid and enforceable, the court may use it to divide assets according to the wishes of the parties involved. What are the benefits of having an agreement of this type?

When you establish a binding financial agreement, you remain in control of your assets and decide which party gets which items. The emotional and financial costs of the legal proceedings are greatly reduced and you can begin to move forward with your new life. Communication between former partners improves with the use of a financial agreement and your relationship as parents, if this situation applies, often works better. The best time to come to a financial agreement is when you are still acting as a couple so you can make rational decisions. Emotions are less likely to come into play when this is the case.

How do you go about setting up a binding financial agreement in Australia? Certain conditions must be met to ensure the contract is valid and enforceable. Both parties must seek independent legal advice from different legal practitioners before the agreement is signed. The legal practitioners are required to explain how entering into the agreement will affect the right of each party and outline the advantages and disadvantages of an agreement of this type. A signed statement must be provided by the legal practitioner stating that the advice was given and this statement must be shared with the legal advisor for the other party. In addition, any spousal maintenance to be provided must be laid out in the document. The financial agreement in Australia must be written and signed by both parties.

Certain situations will make a binding financial agreement in Australia invalid and unenforceable. Fraud is one situation. If either party has failed to disclose a 'material matter', the contract can be set aside by the court. The same is true if the agreement has been entered into for a fraudulent purpose. If there is a material change in circumstances, the court may set the contract aside and the same is true if some terms are voidable, void or unenforceable. Other situations may occur that make the contract invalid.

Never enter into a binding financial agreement without following these steps. When you do so, the court will likely set the agreement aside as if it never existed. Work with legal council to have an agreement drafted. When you do so, you can save yourself a great deal of time and frustration in the event the relationship does not last.

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Monday, 27 August 2012

Guidelines About Getting Binding Financial Agreement In Australia

Anyone getting into a marriage or de facto relationship in Australia might want to set up a legal agreement outlining how property and financial resources will be split up in the event of a divorce or relationship breakdown. This is referred to as a binding financial agreement in Australia although a few think of it as a separation agreement or maybe a pre- or post-nuptial agreement. No matter what this agreement is addressed as, as long as it really is reasonable and enforceable, the court will use it to divide assets according to the wishes of the people involved. What are the good things about getting an agreement of this type?

When you begin a binding financial agreement, you keep in control of your assets and choose which party gets which items. The emotional and financial costs of the court proceedings are cut down tremendously and you can begin to move forward with your new life. Communication between former partners gets better with the use of a financial agreement and also your relationship as parents, if this condition applies, often works better. The best time to get to a financial agreement is when you are still acting as a couple so you can make rational decisions. Emotions are less likely to come into play when this happens.

How do you start establishing a binding financial agreement in Australia? Particular conditions has to be met to ensure the contract is legitimate and enforceable. Both persons must seek independent legal advice from different legal practitioners before the agreement is signed. The legal practitioners are required to explain how going into the agreement will affect the right of each party and outline pros and disadvantages of an agreement of this type. A signed statement must be provided by the legal practitioner proclaiming that the advice was given and this statement should be shared with the legal advisor for the other party. Additionally, any spousal maintenance to be presented must be outlined in the document. The financial agreement in Australia has to be written and signed by both persons.

Certain situations will make a binding financial agreement in Australia unacceptable and unenforceable. Fraud is certainly one issue. If either party has failed to disclose a 'material matter', the contract can be put aside by the court. The same is valid if the agreement has been inked for a fraudulent purpose. If there is a material change in situations, the court may set the contract aside and the same is valid if some terms are voidable, void or unenforceable. Other situations may take place which make the contract invalid.

Never enter into a binding financial agreement without pursuing these procedures. When you achieve this, the court will probably set the agreement aside as if it never ever existed. Deal with legal council to get an agreement drafted. When you do this, you could save yourself a great deal of time and frustration in case the relationship does not last.


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Monday, 23 July 2012

Main Reasons To Know About Binding Financial Agreement

In this particular topic, we will determine what is the importance of Binding Financial Agreement, who goes into financial agreements, the advantages and drawbacks, and some other conditions relevant to this matter.

What's binding financial agreement (BFA)? Binding financial agreement or Property (Relationships) is a legal agreement in which both sides get into before, throughout or after a marriage. In essence, they elucidate the process of what goes on before a divorce for instance how assets are to be divided up and the level of maintenance will be offered. Financial agreements are binding in a way that they are tough to overturn unless they have fulfilled the official demands needed. For instance, an oral agreement would not be enough for the reason that the records are very complex.

Who enters into BFA? These are people who may come in, or anticipate to go in cohabitation agreements for a diversity of reasons. Others may prefer to stay away from the monetary and emotional expenses that usually go with proceedings over assets and maintenance; Those who have been in former relationships, and who have gone through separation of family belongings at the end of that bond may be more likely to get into financial agreements to safeguard their possessions from their current partner, and keep it with either themselves or for children of their previous relationship.

What are the advantages of BFA? It avoids any court procedures after the splitting up or divorce that lies mainly with its suppleness when dealing with superannuation, you can use it for more than 12 months after declaration of divorce and it may be used after the splitting up to affect provisional division of properties. In contrast, the down sides include things like expensive handling of document (all sides are required to get a legal advice), complexity and risks are involved (using this kind of agreement before getting into in a relationship may be restricted to situations where one or both have substantial assets) and the deal of binding financial agreement is probably not of necessity free from tax.

Are there any issues strongly related to this kind of Agreement? Well some issues may be considered in examining BFA: how the relation has lasted; no matter if you mutually stay in the residence; how family circle duties are completed; how distant your assets are entwined; whether you possess assets mutually. In the end, it is clearly situation where such Binding Financial Agreements will be supplementary advantageous than others. Important points to note to this are not a typical paper for which there is known as a template that is able to be useful for each and every situation. Each Agreement is unique and drafted with the particular circumstances of the parties’ to the Agreement in mind. For this reason, it is not recommended that you attempt to draft such an Agreement yourself or purchase a template which seems to be available on an increasing number of internet websites at a bargain price.



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Wednesday, 30 May 2012

Right Decision To Have Your Financial Agreement

You maybe planning marriage soon or are currently in a relationship and it’s time for you to consider your financial concern with your partner. You may have certain expectations and if anything goes wrong in the future you would need to be protected. The question you ask yourself is whether you may need a binding money agreement? What is a Binding Financial Agreement? It is usually popularly known as a pre-nup agreement, prenuptial agreement or a monetary agreement. By having one it may also enhance a good relationship throughout a marriage and reduce struggle when a marriage doesn't last. As studies point out almost 1/3 of marriages end in divorce and there's a pattern towards people marrying at older ages. In 1971 the typical age was about 24 whereas now the figure can be somewhere in the early 30’s.

Since people are marrying more mature and stepping into marriages with a lot more greater properties and assets and a larger value, it is not unexpected that with high divorce rates, people (and their families) wish to protect their assets.‘Pre nuptial’ Agreements have been popular for quite a while, however it was not until 27 December 2000 these agreements were ‘binding’ under the Family Law Act. The Binding Financial Agreement can take care of two main areas: property and maintenance. It can point out the property or financial resources, both parties bring to the marriage and acquire during the marriage and if the marriage fails where to be divided. These agreements can also cope with protection of the parties during the marriage and after the marriage.

What Are The main advantages of Binding Financial Agreements? The advantages a Binding Money Agreement are two fold. Firstly, it gives each party with additional control over their assets and greater choice about their own financial situation. Secondly, such an agreement reduces struggle and the possibilities of a law suit in case the marriage stops working. If you're contemplating marriage and either you or your future spouse holds major investments (or major debts), or if you find a significant dissimilarity in wealth, then a binding financial agreement is a thing you should look at. It can be the case that, by moving into a Binding Financial Agreement, you will be allaying the concerns of the in-laws, or your family, in respect of protecting pre-existing sources and wealth. Nonetheless there are disadvantages in having this Agreement. The Family Law Act won't give any type of Court approval or acceptance or ratification. Quite a few monetary agreements have been completely voided or reserved on ‘technicalities’. It's not at all enough that an agreement describes the agreement among two parties to a marriage or proposed marriage, and is signed by the parties after having received separate legal advice. These agreements must strictly adhere to current legislative options, or else the agreement is going to be non-binding and unenforceable, and the charge and the undertaking needed in the preparation of the agreement will all be for nothing.

 It is therefore important that whoever drafts your binding financial agreement or endorses you of your rights within proposed binding financial agreement is qualified and familiar with Family Law and Binding Financial Agreements. It’s crucial that the Solicitor who drafts your Financial Agreement, will supply you with unbiased legal advice on the binding financial agreement, are knowledgeable and proficient in Family Law and Binding Financial Agreements, and are up to date with the Family Law legislation.Whilst binding financial agreements might be binding, there are circumstances in which a Court may set aside a financial agreement. These situations include fraud, unconscionability, or if there's been a material change in instances and consequently of the change a party to the agreement will experience trouble if a Court will not set aside the agreement.

Whilst you'll find parties who are against ‘pre nups’ and say that such agreements are based on the principles of affection and trust involving parties getting in a marriage, the functional attributes of binding financial agreements help to increase a harmonious relationship and minimize the likelihood of dispute and court costs in the future. It’s always important to see a qualified lawyer to help you to draft your binding financial agreement and if you are trying to find an expert team to achieve this for you, visit our website at Binding Financial Agreement to learn more.



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Monday, 28 May 2012

Legal Statements Of Having A Binding Financial Agreement

It is appealing to call binding financial agreements “pre-nups”, but this ignores a lot of the impression. Binding financial agreements may appear at any time before, during and even after a marriage has ended. In essence, these explain the process of what happens upon divorce such as how assets are to be partioned and whether, and how much, routine maintenance will be offered. Why Should I Want a Binding Financial Agreement? That’s a good question. After all, you two love each other and it’s “till death do us part.” Acquiring a financial agreement may thus be viewed as tempting fate. And, unless you’ve just landed the prime role in the latest blockbuster movie or won the lottery, you may believe it isn’t well worth the trouble.

But binding financial agreements can cover any kind of asset, contingency or consequence you can think of. They can detail preservation, separation of assets (whether obtained before or throughout the marriage), how the children (if any) are to be taken care of. As a result, these are ideal for preserving any asset that has expressive value for you, regardless of whether it is also monetarily useful. They can as a result be used to protect your grandmother’s priceless china collection that she bequeathed you.

Binding financial agreements for that reason provide comparable guarantee in the unlucky event that your relationship does stop working. Without a financial agreement, if you do end up in court, your decision will be based on what the judge believes to be appropriate, just and fair in the circumstances, not how you decide. The effects of this process are unknown until a choice is created, and even then it may be appealed, resulting in a slow process. However, a binding financial agreement offers certainty beforehand. Further, since it is an agreement, the parties don't have to get equivalent shares of the assets, although may certainly decide to do so.

Divorces and separations are agonizing enough already. Emotions are usually high. Adding uncertainty and lawsuits to the mix does not suggest a good outcome for either person. Thus, a financial agreement should resolve many of these problems.

 As the agreement is binding, you don’t have to show up before a court. In reality, they prevent either party from applying to the Family Court over assets or dealings that the financial agreement covers. This reduces all the related legal costs that are often included in protracted divorces. Ultimately, this implies more assets for both of you pursuing the divorce. Since you don’t have to appear before court, this also means you don’t have to make financial reports to the court. Essentially, they are types of legal and financial insurance in the worst case scenario.



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Friday, 25 May 2012

Complete Details About The Financial Agreement

Financial agreements could be entered by any two people who are married or are preparing to marry. Financial agreements are binding - in that sense they are very hard to overturn - but they do need to satisfy the formal requirements specified in section 90G of the Family Law Act 1975 (“the Act”) to achieve this status: the agreement must be penned. An oral agreement won’t suffice. It is because they are quite complex records, and specificity is essential; both sides must get independent legal advice from a legal practitioner. These tips must tell each of you what the agreement means for you, when it comes to your rights, and the positive aspects and down sides of the agreement. It is encouraged that you get these suggestions in writing; the agreement must contain a clause saying you have each received such advice; a signed certificate from the legal practitioner attesting to these tips must be coupled to the agreement; each party must sign the agreement; finally, each party must have either a copy or the original of the financial agreement.

These steps basically avoid either party from saying they were not conscious of the outcomes of the agreement when they accessed into it. When is a Financial Agreement Not Binding? Even though they offer comparable certainty, financial agreements are not dependable and they can be overturned in some very specific occasions. Section 90K of the Act lists the first few situations, notably where: any of the above formal steps have not been satisfied; you have not disclosed, or have concealed or misrepresented, the extent of your assets and resources at the time you accessed into the agreement; it is impracticable for the agreement to be performed, for instance; a transformation has occurred relating to a child which will cause that child to experience hardship; or you entered into the agreement by fraud, or for the purpose of defrauding another.

Your legal advisor can provide additional information on these, especially as certain standard clauses in financial agreements could be void. For example, section 90F overturns any clause that forbids the courts from instituting a maintenance agreement if, at the time, the other party was unable to support themselves.

A financial agreement may also be overturned by contract law, because they're, basically, a contract. A full breakdown of these situations is past the scope of this article, but in conclusion, they arise in the operation of getting one party to sign the agreement, the other party engaged in conduct that was highly unethical or fraudulent; the agreement is vague and it is unclear what it promises to do; either party forced the other person to sign the agreement; or both sides sign a new agreement terminating the financial agreement.

Many of these factors, nonetheless, should be dealt with by your legal practitioner when you obtain advice as to the financial agreement. Due to the difficulties associated with drafting a relatively intricate document, it is recommended you also use your practitioner to draft, or help draft, your financial agreement. This will help ensure it is binding, and offer the mandatory safety to both of you should the relationship fall apart.



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