Finances and property: Bankruptcy in family law | Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia

The Court can deal with the bankruptcy of a party to a marriage or de facto relationship involved in certain family law proceedings. The impact on parties is complex. If you are bankrupt, or the other party is bankrupt, you should get legal advice.

Legal terms

Bankrupt - a person:
- against whose estate a sequestration order has been made, or
- who has become a bankrupt because of a debtor’s petition.
See section 5 of the Bankruptcy Act 1966.
Creditor - a person to whom money is owed.
Debtor - a person who owes money to another person.
Injunction - a court order requiring a person to do, or to refrain from doing, a specified action.
Personal Insolvency Agreement – a deed between a debtor and creditor(s), aimed at avoiding bankruptcy of the debtor. The deed identifies the property and income available to pay creditors’ claims and how it is to be distributed amongst the creditors.

See Part X of the Bankruptcy Act 1996.
Trustee (in bankruptcy) - the trustee is the person who administers the estate of the bankrupt. The bankrupt’s property vests in the trustee. The trustee must sell all of the vested property and distribute the proceeds amongst the creditors, or sell sufficient property to pay the creditors and return any remaining money or property to the bankrupt. The trustee can be either a private individual (a registered trustee) or the Official Trustee.
Vest - a person in whom property is vested has the right to possess and control the property, including the right to sell it.
Vested property - all of the property of the bankrupt that belonged to him/her at the start of the bankruptcy or is acquired during the bankruptcy vests in the trustee, except for exempt property. Section 116 of the Bankruptcy Act 1996 defines exempt property. It includes property held by the bankrupt in trust, some household property, some personal property, property (to a certain value) used in earning income, a vehicle (to a certain value) used by the bankrupt, life assurance policies, some superannuation interests, rights to recover compensation for injury and any compensation recovered.

When can the Court deal with bankruptcy?

The Court can deal with any matter connected with, or arising out of, the bankruptcy of a party to a marriage or de facto relationship in proceedings for:

property settlement under sections 79 or 90SM of the Family Law Act 1975, and/or
declaration of interest in property under sections 78 or 90SL of the Family Law Act 1975, and/or
setting aside property orders under sections 79A or 90SN of the Family Law Act 1975, and/or
spousal (including de facto) maintenance under section 74 or 90SE of the Family Law Act 1975, and/or
enforcement of any of the above orders.

What is the effect of bankruptcy on the bankrupt?

Once a party to a marriage or de facto relationship becomes bankrupt, his or her property immediately vests in the trustee. This excludes some categories of assets such as most household goods, superannuation, some tools of trade and a motor vehicle up to a certain value.

Do pre-action procedures apply?

The pre-action procedures for financial matters do not apply to proceedings invoking the Court’s jurisdiction in bankruptcy under sections 35 or 35A of the Bankruptcy Act 1996.

The pre-action procedures apply to all other proceedings.

Can (or must) the trustee become a party to family law proceedings?

The trustee may apply to become a party to family law proceedings. If the trustee does become a party, the bankrupt cannot make any submissions to the Court about property already vested in the trustee, except with permission of the Court.

Does the non-bankrupt party to the marriage or de facto relationship have priority over the creditors?

The Court must determine the competing rights of the creditors and the non-bankrupt party, neither has priority.

Can the Court order the transfer of property vested in the trustee?

Yes, the Court can order the trustee to transfer vested property to the non-bankrupt.

What if either party to a marriage or de facto relationship is a debtor subject to a personal insolvency agreement?

If a party to a marriage or de facto relationship, who is a party to property settlement or maintenance proceedings, is or becomes, a debtor subject to a personal insolvency agreement then:

the above information relating to bankrupt parties, applies to the debtor party
the above information relating to trustees in bankruptcy applies to the trustee of the debtor party’s property.

When do I need to give notice to the Court?

Parties to a financial case, including enforcement of financial orders, must notify the Court at the start of (or during the case) if they are (or become) a bankrupt or a debtor subject to a personal insolvency agreement.

When do I need to give notice to my trustee?

A bankrupt or a debtor subject to a personal insolvency agreement must notify his or her trustee if he or she becomes a party to family law financial proceedings.

Who can apply to set aside or vary orders made in property settlement proceedings?

Any person affected by an order made in property settlement proceedings can apply to have such order set aside or varied.

A creditor of a party to the property settlement proceedings is able to make an application to have an order that prevents them from being able to recover a debt owing to them set aside or varied.

In cases where a party to the marriage or de facto relationship is a bankrupt or debtor subject to a personal insolvency agreement when a property settlement order is made, or becomes so after the order is made, the trustee is able to have the order set aside or varied.

(see sections 79A and 90SN of the Family Law Act 1975).

Can the non-bankrupt party to a marriage or de facto relationship apply to restrain the trustee?

Yes, the non-bankrupt party to a marriage or de facto relationship can apply to the Court for an injunction to restrain the trustee from declaring or distributing dividends amongst the creditors of the bankrupt or debtor party to their marriage or de facto relationship.

What if costs are ordered?

Unless the Court orders otherwise, a person entitled to costs in a case to which the Bankruptcy Act 1996 applies is entitled to costs in accordance with order 62 of the Federal Court Rules 1979.

What forms do I need to use?

The following bankruptcy forms can be filed in family law proceedings:

Legal advice

You are not required to be represented by a lawyer, or to seek legal advice, before entering into consent Orders or applying to the Court, or if you have been served with an application. However, family law is complex, and getting legal advice will help you to better understand your rights and responsibilities.

For information on how to get legal advice, see Legal Help.

More information

The Family Law Practice Direction – Financial proceedings sets out the procedural requirements and steps in proceedings about financial matters, and the Family Law Practice Directions – Bankruptcy Act proceedings sets out the procedure for family law proceedings to which sections 35 or 35A of the Bankruptcy Act 1996 apply.