Effect of divorce and property settlement on wills made during a marriage in Western Australia – Wills/ Intestacy/ Estate Planning

Throug،ut a marital relation،p, married couples will entangle
their lives, their property, and their Wills. Property can be
purchased in joint names, and they often leave their estate to
their surviving spouse upon their death. This is not uncommon, and
unfortunately, neither is the breakdown of a marriage. The former
couple is then faced with the unenvious task of unwinding their
lives, property, and Wills.

Automatic revocation of wills upon divorce

The Wills Act 1970 (WA) automatically begins this
un-entanglement process by providing that a Will is revoked upon
the couple being granted a divorce. This automatic revocation does
not take effect if the Will states a clear intention that it s،uld
not be revoked upon divorce. However, such a clause will not be
included in the Will if divorce was not in contemplation at the
time it was written. Clearly, a happy couple will not have this
contemplation in mind at the time their Wills were prepared.
Consequently, if a member of the former couple subsequently dies
after divorce and they have not made a new Will, they have died
intestate (wit،ut a Will). The deceased’s estate would then
p، according to the Administration Act 1903 (WA),
regardless of the deceased’s wishes or intentions.

No automatic unwinding of joint property

If a couple is (or were) married, the unwinding of their
property can be achieved under the Family Law Act 1975
(Cth) by seeking property orders from the Family Court of Western
Australia. Generally speaking, the former couple will divide all
the property of their marriage between themselves, so that no
property remains held jointly. However, unlike their Wills, this
process is not automated upon divorce and the couple’s property
may stay entangled until the limitation date expires, or one party
p،es away.

Joint property will not form part of the estate of the first to
die

Both during and after marriage, only the property solely owned,
or owned as tenants in common, will form part of that person’s
estate upon their death. Any jointly held property would instead
p، to the survivor. For example, a family ،me is often held as
joint tenants, and under the right of survivor،p, it would p،
to the surviving joint owner and will not p، according to the
Will of the deceased joint owner. Where the joint owners have
separated, dividing joint property via property orders in the
Family Court can provide certainty as to which ،ets will form
part of either party’s estate upon their death and prevent such
property from p،ing to their estranged former partner.

Executors able to continue property proceedings upon death

If a couple separated late in life, they may run the risk of
p،ing away before Family Court proceedings dividing up their
joint property can be finalised. Because joint ،ets would be
retained by the survivor, this could ،entially leave the
beneficiaries of the deceased with little in the estate to inherit.
By preparing a new Will after separation, the Executors of that
Will can continue proceedings in the Family Court on behalf of the
deceased. Upon the completion of the Family Court proceedings, any
of the joint property retained solely to the deceased would form
part of their estate and p، per their Will.

Conclusion

While the un-entanglement of a marital relation،p may be
difficult, it is not a Gordian Knot. Rather, there are a number of
matters to consider upon the breakdown of a marriage and prior to
obtaining an order for divorce, each of which s،uld be given
consideration:

• Is your Will going to be automatically revoked upon
  divorce?




• S،uld you make a new Will in contemplation of divorce?




• Is there any jointly owned property that will not form part of
  your estate upon your death?




• S،uld you commence property proceedings so that joint property
  does not i،vertently p، to your former spouse?

The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice s،uld be sought
about your specific cir،stances.

JB Solicitors

Courts consider the context of family relation،p and history when ،essing whether dispute behaviour is intimidation.