Section 86 — Property (Relationships) Act 1976: Compensation for actions after separation or death

86 Compensation for actions after separation or death (1) If this Part applies, then for the purposes of sections 18B and 18C , relevant period means,— (a) if the spouses or partners cease to live together while both are alive, the period after they cease to live together but before the date of the hearing of an application under this Act by the Court of first instance: (b) if the spouses or partners do not cease to live together while both are alive, the period after the death of the deceased spouse or partner but before the date of the hearing of an application under this Act by the Court of first instance. (2) The Court may exercise the power in section 18B(2) if, during the relevant period, 1 of the spouses or partners or the personal representative of the deceased spouse or partner has done anything that would have been a contribution to the marriage, civil union, or de facto relationship if the spouses or partners had not ceased to live together or if 1 of them had not died. (3) The Court may exercise the power in section 18C(2) if, during the relevant period, the relationship property has been materially diminished in value by the deliberate action or inaction of— (a) the personal representative of the deceased spouse or partner; or (b) the surviving spouse or partner. Sections 55 to 57 were repealed, and new Part 8 (comprising sections 55 to 95) and Part 9 (comprising sections 96 to 99) were inserted, as from 1 February 2002, by section 61 Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2001 (2001 No 5). See Part 9 of this Act as to the transitional and saving provisions. Section 86 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. Subsections (1) and (2) were 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 ” wherever they appear. Subsection (2) 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 ” .