{"id":16478,"date":"2026-10-05T12:33:54","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T01:33:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/?p=16478"},"modified":"2026-10-05T12:33:54","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T01:33:54","slug":"spousal-de-facto-maintenance-australia-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/spousal-de-facto-maintenance-australia-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Spousal and De Facto Maintenance in Australia: Who Can Claim, How It Is Decided and When It Ends"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The short answer: in Australia, after separation or divorce, a party may receive spousal maintenance only if they<strong>cannot adequately support themselves<\/strong>and the other party<strong>has the capacity to pay<\/strong>. It is not an automatic right and does not depend on fault or simply on the length of the marriage; the court decides each case under section 72 and the factors in section 75(2) of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth). De facto partners have broadly the same rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many people confuse spousal maintenance, child support and property settlement. They have different legal bases and are calculated differently, yet they affect each other. This guide explains who can apply, how the court decides, what to do in an urgent situation, and how maintenance orders are varied and ended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key points<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>There is a two-step threshold: the applicant has reasonable needs they cannot meet, and the other party can afford to pay.<\/li>\n\n<li>Married people must apply within 12 months after the divorce takes effect; de facto partners within two years after the relationship ends; otherwise the court's permission is needed.<\/li>\n\n<li>If you urgently need financial help, you can seek urgent or interim maintenance.<\/li>\n\n<li>From 10 June 2025, the court must consider the effect of family violence, including economic abuse, on a party's current and future needs.<\/li>\n\n<li>An order usually ends if the recipient dies or remarries; either party can apply to vary it if circumstances change significantly.<\/li>\n\n<li>An unmarried mother can ask the child's father to contribute to her living and medical costs around the birth, generally applying within 12 months after the birth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who can apply and when<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Married or formerly married spouses<\/strong>can apply at any time during the marriage, including after separation and before divorce; once the divorce takes effect, they must apply within 12 months.<strong>De facto partners<\/strong>: in Victoria, the Family Law Act applies to relationships that ended on or after 1 March 2009. Generally the relationship must have lasted two years, or there is a child, or one party made substantial contributions, or the relationship was registered, and the application must be made within two years after the relationship ended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A late application needs the court's permission, usually by showing hardship if permission is refused or that the applicant cannot support themselves. Cases are heard by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cross-border families often ask whether an Australian court can act when the other party lives overseas. Generally, a married spouse can apply for maintenance in Australia if either party is an Australian citizen, ordinarily resident in Australia or present here; de facto partners must meet additional geographical connection requirements, such as having a connection with a participating state for most of the relationship. In assessing capacity to pay, the court takes into account income and assets in places such as mainland China, Hong Kong or Malaysia, but whether an order can actually be enforced depends on where the assets are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The threshold test: need and capacity to pay<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under section 72, the applicant must show they cannot adequately support themselves from their own income, property and financial resources, for example because they care for a child under 18, cannot work due to age or physical or mental incapacity, or for another adequate reason. The focus is on 'adequate' support rather than maintaining the pre-separation lifestyle; the court looks at reasonable, not ideal, expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, the other party must be able to pay after meeting their own reasonable expenses, including child support. If the other party's income is limited, the court may make no order even though the applicant has a genuine need. In deciding whether the applicant can support themselves, the court disregards their entitlement to income-tested government benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Deliberately arranging finances, such as holding substantial assets while claiming no income, or unreasonably refusing suitable work, can cause an application to fail. Being the primary carer of children does not automatically entitle a party to maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unlike child support, spousal maintenance has no fixed formula. In practice the court usually compares the gap between the applicant's reasonable weekly expenses and their income with how much the other party has left after meeting their own reasonable expenses, and decides between the two. Whether the expense list is genuine, reasonable and supported by receipts therefore often directly affects the outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Factors the court considers (section 75(2))<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The age and health of each party.<\/li>\n\n<li>Each party's income, property and financial resources and capacity for appropriate gainful employment.<\/li>\n\n<li>Which party cares for children under 18 and the need to provide appropriate housing for them (added by the 2025 amendments).<\/li>\n\n<li>The effect of family violence, including economic abuse, on a party's current and future circumstances, such as earning capacity (added by the 2025 amendments).<\/li>\n\n<li>A reasonable standard of living, the duration of the marriage or relationship and its effect on a party's earning capacity.<\/li>\n\n<li>Each party's responsibility to support others, the financial circumstances of a new partner, and child support paid or payable.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The court also values the recipient becoming self-supporting. If the applicant plans study or training to increase their income, the court may award maintenance for the training period, including course fees and necessary costs, where the plan is specific, realistic and directly improves employability. Someone with professional qualifications who has been out of the workforce for a long time usually receives only transitional support, while an older person with little work experience may receive longer support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Urgent and interim maintenance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Early in a separation, the financially weaker party may be unable to cover rent and daily costs. Under section 77, where a party is in immediate need of financial assistance, the court can order the other party to pay a reasonable amount before the full hearing. The applicant files an Initiating Application, a Financial Statement and an affidavit setting out weekly expenses, income and the other party's capacity to pay. Urgent orders only meet immediate needs; the final amount is decided later in the proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before filing, non-urgent financial cases generally must follow the court's pre-action procedures, including exchanging financial information and attempting negotiation or mediation, with exceptions such as urgency or family violence. A maintenance arrangement reached at mediation can be made into consent orders by the court, giving it the same enforceability as a judgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Form, variation and ending of orders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A maintenance order can provide for periodic payments (weekly or monthly), a lump sum, or a transfer of property interests. A lump sum suits a foreseeable need, such as a training course; where future needs are uncertain, periodic payments with room for later review are often more suitable. The court prefers the parties to separate their finances early to reduce future disputes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Variation<\/strong>: if either party's financial position or the cost of living changes significantly, or the original order was based on false or incomplete information, an application can be made to increase, decrease, suspend, revive or discharge the order (section 83).<strong>Ending<\/strong>: an order ends on the recipient's death and generally on the payer's death, and ends if a married recipient remarries, except in special circumstances. Living with a new partner does not automatically end the order, but financial support from the new partner is taken into account and may be grounds for variation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How maintenance relates to property, child support and financial agreements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spousal maintenance and property settlement both fall under Part VIII of the Family Law Act but rest on different bases: property settlement assesses contributions, while maintenance looks only at need and capacity to pay. If one party receives more assets in the property settlement, their need for maintenance may fall; where there are few assets, ongoing maintenance may matter more. In practice, both are often negotiated together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Child support is generally calculated by Services Australia using the formula in the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989. It is the child's entitlement and takes priority over spousal maintenance, and the court must consider child support paid or payable when deciding spousal maintenance. The parties can also make a binding financial agreement dealing with maintenance, but each must receive independent legal advice; if, when the agreement takes effect, a party cannot support themselves without an income-tested benefit, the court can still make a maintenance order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pregnancy and birth expenses for an unmarried mother<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the parents are not married, the mother can ask the child's father under the Family Law Act to contribute to her reasonable living costs during the period around the birth, medical costs connected with the pregnancy and birth, and funeral costs if the mother or child dies from causes connected with the pregnancy or birth. The application can be made before the birth and generally must be made within 12 months after it; later applications need the court's permission. The court considers each parent's income, property, earning capacity and other responsibilities, and disregards the mother's entitlement to government benefits. If the man denies paternity, the court can order parentage testing. This claim is separate from any later child support assessment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Practical checklist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>List your reasonable weekly expenses and keep receipts for rent, bills, medical and children's costs.<\/li>\n\n<li>Gather both parties' income evidence: payslips, tax returns, company and trust accounts, and overseas income and assets.<\/li>\n\n<li>Explain why you cannot work or have limited income; if you plan training, set out the course, timing and costs.<\/li>\n\n<li>Check the status of any child support assessment.<\/li>\n\n<li>Note the time limit: 12 months after the divorce takes effect, or two years after a de facto relationship ends.<\/li>\n\n<li>If the situation is urgent, get legal advice early about seeking urgent maintenance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The other party lives overseas. Can a maintenance order still be enforced?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It depends on where they live. Australia has arrangements with some countries and jurisdictions for registering and enforcing maintenance orders, but not with all. If the other party still has assets or income in Australia, enforcement is usually more straightforward. It is wise to assess enforceability before applying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I was married for many years. Am I automatically entitled to spousal maintenance?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not necessarily. The length of the marriage is only one factor. The key questions are whether you cannot adequately support yourself and whether the other party can afford to pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can a de facto partner claim maintenance?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. An eligible de facto partner, for example after two years together or where there is a child, can apply within two years after the relationship ends; later applications need the court's permission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if the other party moves income into a company or overseas?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The court looks at both parties' full income, property and financial resources, including companies, trusts and overseas assets. Both parties must make full financial disclosure, and hiding information can lead to adverse consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">I have moved in with a new partner. Will maintenance stop?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not automatically, but financial support from the new partner is taken into account and the payer can apply to vary or discharge the order. If you remarry, the order generally ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I claim spousal maintenance and child support together?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They are separate. Child support is generally assessed by Services Australia, while spousal maintenance is decided by the court or by agreement, although the court takes child support into account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chua Tan Associates has practised in Melbourne since 1990, advising in Mandarin, Cantonese and English on separation, divorce, property settlement, parenting arrangements and spousal maintenance. Justin Chua is a nationally accredited mediator and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and can help both parties try to reach agreement first. For help, call 03 9602 3988 or contact us online. We can meet at our Melbourne CBD office or by video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This page is general information only and is not legal advice.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Spousal maintenance depends on one party's reasonable needs and the other's capacity to pay, with strict time limits, and it interacts with property settlement and child support.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16478","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-20"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v21.2 (Yoast SEO v28.7) - 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Chua\uff09\u662f\u8521\u5e86\u4f1f\u5f8b\u5e08\u4e8b\u52a1\u6240\u7684\u4e3b\u7406\u5f8b\u5e08\uff0c2020\u5e74\u83b7\u51c6\u6267\u4e1a\uff0c\u6301\u6709RMIT\u5927\u5b66\u6cd5\u5b66\u5b66\u4f4d\u53ca\u58a8\u5c14\u672c\u5927\u5b66\u5546\u5b66\u5b66\u58eb\u5b66\u4f4d\uff08\u4f1a\u8ba1\u4e13\u4e1a\uff09\u3002\u4ed6\u662f\u5168\u56fd\u8ba4\u8bc1\u8c03\u89e3\u5458\uff08AMDRAS\uff09\u3001\u5bb6\u4e8b\u7ea0\u7eb7\u8c03\u89e3\u5458\uff08FDRP\uff09\u3001\u5bb6\u4e8b\u6cd5\u4ef2\u88c1\u5458\uff0c\u4ee5\u53caSTEP\u9644\u5c5e\u4f1a\u5458\uff0c\u4e3b\u8981\u5904\u7406\u9057\u5631\u4e0e\u9057\u4ea7\u3001\u5bb6\u5ead\u6cd5\u3001\u8de8\u5883\u5bb6\u65cf\u4e0e\u5546\u4e1a\u4e8b\u52a1\uff0c\u5e76\u4ee5\u666e\u901a\u8bdd\u548c\u82f1\u8bed\u4e3a\u5ba2\u6237\u63d0\u4f9b\u670d\u52a1\u3002 Justin Chua is a principal of Chua Tan Associates, admitted in 2020, with a law degree from RMIT University and a Bachelor of Commerce (accounting) from the University of Melbourne. He is a nationally accredited mediator, Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner, family law arbitrator and STEP Affiliate, advising on wills and estates, family law, and cross-border family and business matters in Mandarin and English.","sameAs":["https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/"]}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16478","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16478"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16478\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16488,"href":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16478\/revisions\/16488"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16478"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16478"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuatan.com.au\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16478"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}