【安和律师事务所】分居相关法律咨询及相关技术性问题

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分居 - 一个通俗易懂的指南; 法律定义及相关技术性问题

分居绝非一个轻松的过程。大多数的情况下,分居是最后的选择,是给双方一个时间缓冲期,直到最终离婚。但在大多数情况下,分居的双方并不理解分居在法律眼中的含义。结果就是,在申请离婚终止婚姻关系时,一些人会遇到困难。如果您正在考虑分居,我们强烈建议您了解分居的法律定义和一些常见的技术性问题。

定义分居

根据澳大利亚法律,夫妻双方需至少分居12个月后才能申请离婚。因此,分居期充当了婚姻和离婚程序之间的过渡期。


鉴于在离婚前需要经过规定的分居期限,围绕双方分居的确切时间而导致争议的情况并不少见,从而存在是否遵守了离婚前规定的分居期限的问题。如果双方之间没有明确定义的分居行为,这种情况就会更加复杂。因此,对分居的法律定义及其技术细节有透彻理解,对于准备分居的双方来说是至关重要的。


根据澳大利亚法律,与离婚不同,分居并没有正式的程序。分居所需要的是婚姻关系或事实婚姻关系中的双方彼此分居。在离婚的情况下,通常需要双方分居12个月,并认为他们的关系无法挽回。


确实很常见一方不同意分居的情况。然而,根据澳大利亚法律的规定,分居并不需要双方同意,只需一方表示要分居的意愿,并已通知另一方他们将分居且关系已结束。分居的开始日期将被视为通知对方分居意愿的那一天。


另一种常见情况是,分居期间双方仍然居住在同一处房产中。在这种情况下,如果给予双方离婚资格,就有违双方分居各自生活的常理。要使离婚程序获得考虑,必须适用"同居分居"的技术性规定。


这意味着,即使双方生活在同一个屋檐下,但只要他们已结束夫妻关系,不再像夫妻那样相处,比如睡在不同的房间、做不同的家务等,并且双方都有分居的意愿,那么在技术层面上,他们仍然可以被视为是分居状态,从而有资格申请离婚。

同居分居

根据"同居分居"的技术性规定,即使双方仍然共处同一生活空间,在法律上仍将被视为彼此分居。这一规定并未对双方在同一场所居住的期限做出限制 - 即使超过了12个月的离婚申请期限,仍然适用。这些考量使分居夫妻可以继续居住在共同的房产中,而无需立即另觅住处。对于有赡养孩子或老人的家庭来说,这种方式也更便于照应。


关键在于,虽然双方居住在同一地点,但他们已不再维系夫妻关系,生活方式、家务分工等已不同于夫妻,双方也都有分居的意愿。只要满足这些条件,即使在同一屋檐下,也被视为是真正的分居状态,从而有资格申请离婚。


然而,要正式申请离婚,需要向澳大利亚联邦巡回法院和家庭法院(FCFCOA)提交书面宣誓书。在"同居分居"情况下,宣誓书一般需要包括以下内容:

• 新的睡眠安排
• 双方共同的家庭时间减少
• 减少为对方做家务
• 财务状况明确划分
• 告知家人双方已分居
• 通知相关政府机构双方已分居(例如:如果有上学孩子,需通知儿童抚养机构)
  

这些条目旨在证明,尽管同处一个屋檐下,但双方已不再维系夫妻关系,生活方式、家务分工、经济状况等已完全分离,并让家人和有关机构了解了这种分居状态。只有满足这些条件,法院才会认可"同居分居"的技术性规定。


除了在宣誓书中提供相关陈述外,双方继续居住在同一住所的原因也必须告知FCFCOA。法院将根据评估双方分居的具体情况,来判断是否应该适用"同居分居"的技术性规定,从而承认已满足12个月分居期的强制要求。


一些常见的继续同住理由包括:经济状况暂时无法分户、共同照顾子女或其他家庭成员、房产分割所需时间等。无论理由为何,都需要向法院解释清楚,证明虽同住一处但生活和关系已分离。只有法院认可理由充分合理,才会同意双方处于"同居分居"状态,从而使分居期达到离婚申请的时间要求。


分居期对许多人来说往往是一个不愉快的阶段,很多正在考虑分居或已经分居的夫妻对相关法律也并不十分了解。在H&O律师事务所,我们坚信寻求法律专业人士的帮助能够使分居过程对所有当事人而言更加顺利。作为一家拥有为英语和华语客户提供法律服务的能力的律师事务所,我们能够为您提供法律建议,确保您获得公正的代理服务。

如果您对家庭法有任何疑问，请随时与我们联系。 您可以发送电子邮件至 [email protected] 或致电 (08) 8410 9069 安排预约/在线面试。
请注意，本文不构成法律建议，
H & O Lawyers 不会对您根据本文采取的任何行动承担法律责任。
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Friday Article: Separation – A layman’s guide to understanding the legal definition and its technicalities


Separation is by no means an easy process. Oftentimes, separation is the last option, a process taken for both parties that gives them time before a divorce is finalised. In most cases, the separating parties do not understand what separation is in the eyes of the law. The result is that some encounter difficulties as they apply to divorce and end the marriage. If you are considering separation, it is strongly advised that you be informed about its legal definition and some common technicalities.

Defining Separation

Under Australian Law, couples are required to be separated for at least 12 months to proceed with a divorce. As such, the period of separation serves as a transitory period between marriage and divorce proceedings.


Given the time requirements for the period of separation before divorce, it is not uncommon for disputations to arise concerning when both parties separated, thereby whether they had observed the mandated period of separation before divorce. This is further complicated if no clearly defined separation had happened between both parties. Hence, understanding the legal definition of separation along with its technicalities is essential for separating parties.


There is no formal process of separation, unlike divorce, under Australian Law. What is required is for both parties in a marriage, or a de-facto relationship, to live apart from one another. In the context of divorce, it usually requires 12 months of both parties living apart who have deemed their relationship unsalvageable.


It is not uncommon for one party to not agree to separate. However, provisions under Australian Law do not require both parties to agree to separate, only that there is at least one party looking to separate and said party has informed the other party that they will be separating, and that the relationship has ended. Commencement of separation will be taken as the day the intention to separate was made known to the other party.


Another common circumstance is for separating parties to be living within the same property during the period of separation. In such cases, granting the separating parties an eligibility for divorce, would go against the common understanding of having both parties live apart from one another. For divorce proceedings to be considered, the “Separation under one roof” technicality has to be applied.

Separation Under One Roof

Under the separation under one roof technicality, both parties are taken to be living apart from one another while still maintaining their presence in the same living space. This technicality does not place limitations on the duration for which both parties can live in the same premises – it applies even to time periods beyond the 12 months required for divorce proceedings to commence. These considerations allow separating couples to live in their shared property, without one or both parties having to find alternate living spaces immediately. It is also conducive for those who have dependencies such as children or elderly, to look after them.


However, to proceed with an application for divorce, an affidavit has to be taken before the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA). The affidavit – a written compiled document used for legal purposes – in the case of separation under one roof generally requires the following:

• New sleeping arrangements
• Reduced shared family time involving both parties
• Reduction in doing household duties for the other party
• Clear delineation of finances
• Informing family members that separation has taken place between both parties
• Notifying governmental agencies of the separation (Eg: Child Support Agency for parents of school-going children)
  

In addition to the statements provided in the affidavit, the reason(s) for continuing to live in the same household has to be made known to the FCFCOA. It is the court’s assessment of the separating parties’ situation that will help them judge if the Separation Under One Roof technicality should be admitted for the mandatory 12-month period to be fulfilled.


The period of separation is often unpleasant to many people, and many couples who are considering separation or are separating are often not well-versed in the laws concerning separation. At H&O Lawyers, we believe that seeking the help of legal professionals goes a long way to making the separation process smoother for all parties. As a law firm that has competencies in advocating for both English-speaking and Mandarin-speaking clients, we are able to provide you with legal advice and ensure that you receive fair representation.