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Causation in Section 15 of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 - Analysing the New Zealand Supreme Court’s “Working Assumption”: Is it Really Working?

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dc.contributor.author Haradasa, Dharani Tasneem
dc.date.accessioned 2019-12-12T03:56:02Z
dc.date.accessioned 2022-07-12T02:37:24Z
dc.date.available 2019-12-12T03:56:02Z
dc.date.available 2022-07-12T02:37:24Z
dc.date.copyright 2018
dc.date.issued 2018
dc.identifier.uri https://ir.wgtn.ac.nz/handle/123456789/21036
dc.description.abstract Scott v Williams concerned s 15 of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976. In situations of significant economic disparity post-separation, s 15 empowers courts to depart from the default rule of equal division of relationship property to compensate the disadvantaged partner. Causation is one of the jurisdictional hurdles. Only disparity “because of” the division of functions (DOF) is compensable. Thus far, courts have adopted a strict causation approach by placing a costly and often unattainable evidential burden on claimants. Consequently, compensation has been beyond reach for deserving claimants. Responding to this disquiet, Scott’s majority propounded a “working assumption” of causation in relationships conducted along traditional lines, where one party assumes primary responsibility for domestic duties and the other for income-earning. In such situations, Scott’s majority would assume causation at jurisdiction and attribute the entire disparity to the DOF when determining the quantum award. This essay concludes that the working assumption is a positive development in terms of jurisdiction. However, unlike the majority, it argues that striking the correct balance between s 15’s “because of” wording and broad policy rationale, requires an apportionment of causes at quantum. Furthermore, the “traditional lines” and “non-career partner” terminology creates unnecessary confusion and should be eschewed. en_NZ
dc.format pdf en_NZ
dc.language en_NZ
dc.language.iso en_NZ
dc.publisher Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington en_NZ
dc.subject Property (Relationships) Act 1976 en_NZ
dc.subject Economic disparity en_NZ
dc.subject Scott v Williams en_NZ
dc.subject Causation en_NZ
dc.subject Quantum en_NZ
dc.title Causation in Section 15 of the Property (Relationships) Act 1976 - Analysing the New Zealand Supreme Court’s “Working Assumption”: Is it Really Working? en_NZ
dc.type Text en_NZ
vuwschema.contributor.unit Victoria Law School en_NZ
vuwschema.contributor.unit Faculty of Law / Te Kauhanganui Tātai Ture en_NZ
vuwschema.subject.anzsrcfor 180104 Civil Law and Procedure en_NZ
vuwschema.subject.anzsrcfor 180113 Family Law en_NZ
vuwschema.subject.anzsrcfor 180122 Legal Theory, Jurisprudence and Legal Interpretation en_NZ
vuwschema.subject.anzsrcfor 180123 Litigation, Adjudication and Dispute Resolution en_NZ
vuwschema.subject.anzsrcseo 970118 Expanding Knowledge in Law and Legal Studies en_NZ
vuwschema.type.vuw Research Paper or Project en_NZ
thesis.degree.discipline Law en_NZ
thesis.degree.name LL.B. (Honours) en_NZ
vuwschema.subject.anzsrcforV2 489999 Other law and legal studies not elsewhere classified en_NZ
vuwschema.contributor.school School of Law en_NZ


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