Legislation applying to broken engagements

The main legislation applying to disputes between a couple whose engagement has ended is the Family Law Act 1981.

Family Law Act 1981

• Section 3 – gifts to engaged couples from other people
• Section 4 – gifts between engaged couple
• Section 5 – property of engaged couples. This section refers to Section 12 of the Married Women’s Status Act 1957 in relation to disputes over property. Section 12 was repealed by the Family Law Act 1995. Such disputes are now dealt with under Section 44 of the Family Law (Divorce) Act 1996 and Section 36 of the Family Law Act 1995
• Section 6 – where one of the engaged couple has obtained a substantial benefit from the engagement
• Section 7 – where substantial expenditure has been incurred by or on behalf of one of the engaged couple in preparation for the marriage
• Section 9 – length of time within which legal action must be taken