Relationships Act 2003

If, on an application by a partner for an order, a court is satisfied that – there is a personal relationship agreement or separation agreement between the partners; and the agreement is in writing; and the agreement is signed by the partner against whom it is sought to be enforced; and each party to the relationship was, before the time at which the agreement was signed by him or her, given by a legal practitioner a certificate in a form approved by the Minister which states that, before that time, the legal practitioner provided legal advice to that party, independently of the other party to the relationship, as to the following matters:the effect of the agreement on the rights of the parties to apply for an order under Part 5; the advantages and disadvantages, at the time that the advice was provided, to the party of making the agreement; and the certificates referred to in paragraph (d) are endorsed on or annexed to or otherwise accompany the agreement – the court is not to make an order that is inconsistent with the terms of the agreement.

If, on an application by a partner for an order, a court is satisfied that there is a personal relationship agreement or separation agreement between the partners but it is not satisfied as to any of the matters referred to in subsection (1)(b), (c) or (d), the court may – make any order it could have made if there were no personal relationship agreement or separation agreement between the partners; and have regard to the terms of the personal relationship agreement or separation agreement.

A court may make an order referred to in subsection (2) notwithstanding that the personal relationship agreement or separation agreement purports to exclude the jurisdiction of the court to make that order.