DOMESTIC RELATIONSHIPS ACT 1994 (NO. 28 OF 1994)

Table of Provisions

• Long Title

PART I--PRELIMINARY SHORT TITLE

• 1 This Act may be cited as the Domestic Relationships Act 1994.  
• 2 Commencement  
• 3 Interpretation  
• 4 Application of Act  
• 5 Other relief or remedies not affected  

PART II--MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION ADVICE ABOUT FACILITIES

• 6 (1) On request by—  
• 7 Conciliation  
• 8 Referral of matters for mediation or arbitration  
• 9 Admissions made to mediators  

PART III--ADJUSTMENT OF PROPERTY INTERESTS AND MAINTENANCE

• 10 (1) Subject to subsection (2), proceedings under this Act may be instituted in—  
• 11 Prerequisite for relief—residence etc.  
• 12 Prerequisite for relief—length of relationship etc.  
• 13 Time limit for making applications  
• 14 Court to end financial relations  
• 15 Property orders  
• 16 Deferment of order  
• 17 Death of party—effect on proceedings  
• 18 Except as otherwise provided by this Division, a party to a domestic relationship is not liable to maintain the other party to the relationship.  
• 19 Maintenance orders  
• 20 Interim maintenance  
• 21 Death of party—effect on application  
• 22 Periodic maintenance orders—duration  
• 23 Periodic maintenance orders—variation etc.  
• 24 Periodic maintenance orders—cessation  
• 25 For the purposes of this Act but without limiting the generality of the other provisions of this Part, a court may—  
• 26 Execution of instruments by order of a court  
• 27 Urgent orders etc. in the absence of a party  
• 28 Variation and setting aside of orders  
• 29 Transactions to defeat claims  
• 30 Interests of other parties  

PART IV--DOMESTIC RELATIONSHIP AGREEMENTS AND TERMINATION AGREEMENTS

• 31 Interpretation  
• 32 Validity of agreements  
• 33 Effect of agreements in proceedings under Part III  
• 34 Variation etc. of agreements  
• 35 Revocation etc. of agreements  
• 36 Death of party—effect on periodic maintenance under agreement  
• 37 Death of party—transfer of property and lump sum payments under agreement  

PART V--MISCELLANEOUS DECLARATIONS--EXISTENCE OF DOMESTIC

• 38 (1) A court may, on application or its own motion, declare whether a domestic relationship exists, or existed, between specified persons on a specified date or during a specified period, or both.  
• 39 Annulment of declaration  
• 40 Declarations—interests in property  
• 41 Enforcement by Magistrates Court of certain Supreme Court orders  
• 42 Regulations