What Are Contributions?
In property settlement, the court assesses each party's contributions to the relationship. This determines their share of the asset pool.
Types of Contributions
Financial Contributions
Direct financial inputs:
Non-Financial Contributions
Contributions that enhance assets:
Homemaker Contributions
Looking after the home and family:
Parent Contributions
Caring for children:
How Courts Assess Contributions
Whole-of-Relationship View
Courts look at the entire relationship, not individual transactions.
Equal Value
The law recognises that:
Someone earning income contributes, but so does someone enabling the other to work by managing home and children.
Initial Contributions
What each party brought in matters, but...
Long Relationships
The longer the relationship, the less weight initial contributions typically carry. Assets become "merged" over time.
Short Relationships
In shorter relationships, initial contributions carry more weight.
Example Scenarios
Long Marriage, Traditional Roles
Situation: 25-year marriage. Husband worked; wife stayed home with children.
Likely outcome: Close to 50/50 contribution split. Both contributed equally - just differently.
Short Relationship, Significant Pre-Existing Assets
Situation: 3-year relationship. One party owned a $1M house before meeting.
Likely outcome: The pre-existing asset owner gets significant credit for that initial contribution.
Inheritance Mid-Relationship
Situation: 15-year marriage. Wife inherited $200,000 in year 10.
Likely outcome: Wife gets some credit, but it's weighed against overall contributions.
Documenting Your Contributions
Keep Records Of:
- What you brought in initially
Why It Matters
When negotiating or in court, you'll need to demonstrate your contributions.
Future Needs vs Contributions
Contributions aren't the whole picture. After assessing contributions, courts consider "future needs" factors that may adjust the split.