Sometimes as family lawyers we must rain on people’s parade. We can’t always tell clients what they want to hear. This was one of those times. Despite the fact the home and mortgage were in Rebecca’s sole name, she was dismayed to learn that, by law, the home was relationship property. The principal family residence is given special status in law as the “family home”.

To avoid putting time and money into an agreement only to find it is legally invalid or overturned by a Court, here are some of the things you should get careful advice about before having them in your Agreement.

Bypassing legal advice can ultimately end up costing you more when you separate or divorce. Here’s why.

Think of a Contracting Out Agreement as a way of insuring your property from relationship property claims in the event of a separation.

After signing your Contracting Out Agreement, there are things you need to make sure you regularly do if you want it to remain valid.