Section 2E — Property (Relationships) Act 1976: Meaning of relationship of short duration

2E Meaning of relationship of short duration (1) In this Act, relationship of short duration means,— (a) in relation to a marriage, a marriage in which the husband and wife have lived together as husband and wife— (i) for a period of less than 3 years; or (ii) for a period of 3 years or longer, if the Court, having regard to all the circumstances of the marriage, considers it just to treat the marriage as a relationship of short duration: (ab) in relation to a civil union, a civil union in which the civil union partners have lived together as civil union partners— (i) for a period of less than 3 years; or (ii) for a period of 3 years or longer, if the Court, having regard to all the circumstances of the civil union, considers it just to treat the civil union as a relationship of short duration: (b) in relation to a de facto relationship, a de facto relationship in which the de facto partners have lived together as de facto partners— (i) for a period of less than 3 years; or (ii) for a period of 3 years or longer, if the Court, having regard to all the circumstances of the de facto relationship, considers it just to treat the de facto relationship as a relationship of short duration. (2) For the purposes of paragraphs (a)(i) , (ab)(i) , and (b)(i) of subsection (1), in computing the period for which the parties have lived together as husband and wife, civil union partners, or as de facto partners, the Court may exclude a period of resumed cohabitation that has the motive of reconciliation and is no longer than 3 months. Sections 2A to 2H and the heading preceding section 3 were inserted, as from 1 February 2002, by section 8 Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 5). See Part 9 of this Act as to the transitional and saving provisions. Subsection (1)(ab) was inserted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3(4) Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 19). Subsection (2) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3(4) Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 19) by inserting the expression “ , (ab)(i), ” after the expression “ (a)(i) ” . Subsection (2) was inserted, as from 26 April 2005, by section 3(4) Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2005 (2005 No 19) by inserting the words “ , civil union partners, ” after the word “ wife ” .