Section 18 — Property (Relationships) Act 1976: Contributions of spouses or partners

18 Contributions of spouses or partners (1) For the purposes of this Act, a contribution to the marriage, civil union, or de facto relationship means all or any of the following: (a) the care of— (i) any child of the marriage, civil union, or de facto relationship: (ii) any aged or infirm relative or dependant of either spouse or partner: (b) the management of the household and the performance of household duties: (c) the provision of money, including the earning of income, for the purposes of the marriage, civil union, or de facto relationship: (d) the acquisition or creation of relationship property, including the payment of money for those purposes: (e) the payment of money to maintain or increase the value of— (i) the relationship property or any part of that property; or (ii) the separate property of the other spouse or partner or any part of that property: (f) the performance of work or services in respect of— (i) the relationship property or any part of that property; or (ii) the separate property of the other spouse or partner or any part of that property: (g) the forgoing of a higher standard of living than would otherwise have been available: (h) the giving of assistance or support to the other spouse or partner (whether or not of a material kind), including the giving of assistance or support that— (i) enables the other spouse or partner to acquire qualifications; or (ii) aids the other spouse or partner in the carrying on of his or her occupation or business. (2) There is no presumption that a contribution of a monetary nature (whether under subsection (1)(c) or otherwise) is of greater value than a contribution of a non-monetary nature. Subsection (3) was substituted, as from 6 November 1986, by section 2 Matrimonial Property Amendment Act 1986 (1986 No 99). Sections 11 to 18, and the headings before sections 11 and 15, were repealed, and a new Part 4 (comprising sections 11 to 18C) was inserted, as from 1 February 2002, by section 17 Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 5). See Part 9 of this Act as to the transitional and saving provisions. The heading to section 18 was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3(1) Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 19) by substituting the word “ partners ” for the words “ de facto partners ” . Subsection (1) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3(2) Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 19) by substituting the word “ partner ” for the words “ de facto partner ” wherever they appear. Subsection (1) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3(4) Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 19) by inserting the words “ , civil union, ” after the word “ marriage ” in the first place where it appears. Subsection (1)(a)(i) was substituted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3(4) Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 19). Subsection (1)(c) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3(3) Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 19) by inserting the words “ , civil union, ” after the word “ marriage ” .