Section 14AA — Property (Relationships) Act 1976: Civil unions of short duration

14AA Civil unions of short duration (1) This section applies if a civil union is a relationship of short duration (as defined in section 2E ). (2) If this section applies, sections 11(1)(a) , 11(1)(b) , 11A , 11B , and 12 do not apply— (a) to any asset owned wholly or substantially by 1 civil union partner at the date on which the civil union began; or (b) to any asset that has come to 1 civil union partner, after the date on which the civil union began,— (i) by succession; or (ii) by survivorship; or (iii) as the beneficiary under a trust; or (iv) by gift from a third person; or (c) where the contribution of 1 civil union partner to the civil union has clearly been disproportionately greater than the contribution of the other civil union partner. (3) In every case to which subsection (2) applies,— (a) the share of each civil union partner in the relationship property is to be determined in accordance with the contribution of each civil union partner to the civil union; and (b) the share of each civil union partner in any other relationship property that falls for division under sections 11(1)(a) , 11(1)(b) , 11A , 11B , and 12 , and is not determined in accordance with paragraph (a) , is to be determined in accordance with sections 11(1)(a) , 11(1)(b) , 11A , 11B , and 12 . (4) If this section applies, each civil union partner is entitled to share equally in any relationship property that falls for division under section 11(1)(c) , unless his or her contribution to the civil union has been clearly greater than that of the other civil union partner. (5) If, under subsection (4) , the civil union partners do not share equally in any relationship property, the share of each civil union partner in that relationship property is to be determined in accordance with the contribution of each civil union partner to the civil union. (6) This section is subject to sections 15 to 17A . (7) In proceedings commenced after the death of 1 of the civil union partners, this section is modified by section 85 . Section 14AA was inserted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3(4) Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 19).