Section 200: Amendment of Married Women’s Property Act 1964
Effect
626.This section amends section 1 of the Married Women’s Property Act 1964 so that money and property derived from a housekeeping allowance will, in the absence of an agreement to the contrary, be owned by the husband and wife in equal shares regardless of who paid or received the allowance. The provision does not apply to any allowance paid before it comes into force.
Background
627.Under the Married Women’s Property Act 1964, if a husband paid a housekeeping allowance to his wife, any money or property derived from the allowance (in the absence of an agreement to the contrary) was treated as belonging to the husband and wife in equal shares. But the 1964 Act was silent on housekeeping allowances paid by a wife to her husband.
Example
A wife pays her husband a housekeeping allowance. Unless they agree otherwise, the allowance and any property bought from it will be shared equally.