Go-Slow on New Legislation

Abstract

New Zealand family law in 1998 saw significant reforms on the horizon, but it is unclear when these reforms will be enacted. The Matrimonial Property Amendment Bill revises the position of widowed spouses by extending to them the rules for division of property that have until now applied to separated couples. It also gives the Court more tools to combat the use of trusts and companies that put assets out of reach of matrimonial property claims. The De Facto Relationships (Property) Bill deals with relationship property claims outside of marriage, and reforms the law closer to that of matrimonial property. Finally, the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill creates a statutory scheme around assisted reproduction.

Keywords: Matrimonial Property, Relationship Property, De Facto Couple, Succession, Widowed Spouse, Trusts, Assisted Reproduction.

JEL Classification: K39