SA Verbal Agreement After Divorce - Accepted in Family Court?

Australia's #1 for Law
Join 150,000 Australians every month. Ask a question, respond to a question and better understand the law today!
FREE - Join Now

B-57

Member
25 December 2015
2
0
1
After the divorce, my daughter and I met with my ex-wife. We both agreed to give to our daughter the family house. I transferred the house on our daughter's name. After about six months, she text messaged me that she wants her share in property settlement. I told her that we had a verbal agreement, she text messaged me back that she remembered that, but she wants her share. Is the text message admissible in family court, and can I use it as evidence that we had a verbal agreement?
 

JS79

Well-Known Member
2 October 2015
306
36
714
Perth
You will both have a chance to swear an affidavit in support of your side of the story. The magistrate/judge will then make a decision on what they believe happened from reading both affidavits.

I suggest contacting a local lawyer who specialises in family law. See
Get Connected with the Right Lawyer for You
 

sammy01

Well-Known Member
27 September 2015
5,152
720
2,894
My understanding is that a verbal agreement or, for that matter, a written agreement between separating couples is not legally enforceable. The text message will be admissible but really won't have much relevance.

But since you've transferred the house into your daughter's name, that might save you. Just out of interest, was the house in both you and the ex's name prior to the transfer or was it just in your name?
If it was in both names, then the ex is gonna have issues because she has legally relinquished her right to the house. But if it was in your name only, then it gets messy...
 

Rod

Lawyer
LawConnect (LawTap) Verified
27 May 2014
7,726
1,056
2,894
www.hutchinsonlegal.com.au
Was there any kind of property settlement as part of the divorce proceedings?