The Struggle for Relationship Property
Recognising Intangible Investments and Challenging Patriarchal Norms & Understandings When A Relationship Fails
Amidst the intricacies of family court dynamics lies the contentious issue of relationship property.
When two lives, intertwined in love, partnership, and mutual responsibilities, separate, the division of relationship property stands as one of the most vexed processes in the legal world.
It’s not just about the assets either; it’s about respect, recognition, and, too often, it becomes a silent battlefield for power.
On the surface, relationship property law might appear to be a realm of objective fairness. There are laws, formulas, and precedents, all intricately woven together in the name of equity.
But peel back these layers, and one often discovers that the foundational principles are riddled with gendered imbalances, inherited patriarchal norms, and biases that lean heavily against the woman, especially in the Western world.
It starts simply. The house, the car, the bank accounts — these tangible assets make up the core of what’s divided. But, how do you quantify years of intangible investments?
