Gallagher v. Stark, (1982) 56 N.S.R.(2d) 361 (FC)

• Case Date: June 23, 1982
• Jurisdiction: Nova Scotia
• Citations: (1982), 56 N.S.R.(2d) 361 (FC)

Gallagher v. Stark (1982), 56 N.S.R.(2d) 361 (FC);

    117 A.P.R. 361

MLB headnote and full text

Gallagher v. Stark

(File Number DM82-228)

Indexed As: Gallagher v. Stark

Nova Scotia Family Court

Niedermayer, J.F.C.

August 14, 1982.

Summary:

A 48 year old woman applied under the Family Maintenance Act for maintenance from a man with whom she had lived in a common law relationship for the past two years. She contributed her time, labour and some money in the building of his house. She also performed various domestic tasks.

The Nova Scotia Family Court awarded her periodic maintenance of $1500 per month for 18 months, and lump sum maintenance of $20,000, payable at the expiration of the 18 months.

Courts - Topic 6164

Provincial courts - Nova Scotia - Family Court - Jurisdiction - General - The Nova Scotia Family Court stated that since it was a court created by statute, with no inherent jurisdiction, it had no jurisdiction to decide whether property owned by one common-law spouse was held upon a resulting or constructive trust for the other common-law spouse - See paragraph 21.

Family Law - Topic 4000

Divorce - Corollary relief - Maintenance awards - General - The Nova Scotia Family Court referred to the general principles relied upon in awarding periodic and lump sum maintenance under the Divorce Act - See paragraphs 29 to 40.

Family Law - Topic 688

Husband and wife - Property rights during common-law marriage or relationships - Resulting or constructive trusts - The Nova Scotia Family Court referred to the general principles relied upon in determining whether property owned by one common-law spouse was subject to a resulting or constructive trust in favour of the other common-law spouse - See paragraphs 47 to 73.

Family Law - Topic 2485

Maintenance of wives and children - Awards - Periodic payments and lump sum - A 48 year old woman applied under the Family Maintenance Act for maintenance from a man with whom she had lived in a common-law relationship for the past two years - She contributed her time, labour and some money in the building of his house - She also performed various domestic tasks - The Nova Scotia Family Court awarded her periodic maintenance of $1500 per month for 18 months and lump sum maintenance of $20,000, payable at the expiration of the 18 months - See paragraph 74.

Cases Noticed:

Nash v. Nash, [1975] 2 S.C.R. 507; 16 R.F.L. 295, refd to. [para. 27].

VanZyderveld v. VanZyderveld (1976), 9 N.R. 413; 68 D.L.R.(3d) 364 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 27].

Connelly v. Connelly (1974), 9 N.S.R.(2d) 48 (N.S.C.A.), refd to. [para. 30].

Cox v. Cox (1982), 52 N.S.R.(2d) 298; 106 A.P.R. 298, refd to. [para. 31].

Johnson v. Johnson (1974), 10 N.S.R.(2d) 624; 2 A.P.R. 624 (N.S.C.A.), refd to. [para. 32].

Colbert v. Colbert (1979), 31 N.S.R.(2d) 590; 52 A.P.R. 590 (N.S.C.A.), refd to. [paras. 32, 39].

Dupuis v. Dupuis (1978), 25 N.S.R.(2d) 444; 36 A.P.R. 444 (N.S.C.A.), refd to. [para. 33].

Bradley v. Bradley (1981), 49 N.S.R.(2d) 500; 96 A.P.R. 500 (N.S.S.C.), refd to. [para. 34].

Attwood v. Attwood, [1968] 3 All E.R. 385 (H.C.J.), refd to. [para. 34].

Brocklebank v. Brocklebank (1975), 25 R.F.L. 53 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 34].

Chaffey v. Chaffey (1976), 13 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 150; 29 A.P.R. 150 (Nfld. S.C., T.D.), refd to. [para. 35].

Murta v. Murta and Bell (1977), I Can Family L. Guide 9092 (Man. C.A.), refd to. [para. 36].

Legare v. Guenette, [1978] C.S. 395 (Que. S.C.), refd to. [para. 37].

Burger v. Burger (1979), 34 N.S.R.(2d) 279; 59 A.P.R. 279; (N.S.S.C.) affd. (1979), 36 N.S.R.(2d) 467; 64 A.P.R. 467, refd to. [para. 38].

Murray v. Murray (1979), 37 N.S.R.(2d) 51; 67 A.P.R. 51 (N.S.S.C.), refd to. [para. 38].

Preston v. Preston (1981), 45 N.S.R.(2d) 496; 86 A.P.R. 496 (N.S.S.C.), refd to. [para. 38].

McLellan v. McLellan (1979), 30 N.S.R.(2d) 689; 49 A.P.R. 689 (N.S.C.A.), refd to. [para. 39].

Bailey v. Bailey (1979), 32 N.S.R.(2d) 359; 54 A.P.R. 359 (N.S.C.A.), refd to. [para. 39].

Lawrence v. Lawrence (1981), 47 N.S.R.(2d) 100; 90 A.P.R. 100 (N.S.C.A.), refd to. [para. 42].

Thomas v. Harwood (1981), 45 N.S.R.(2d) 414; 86 A.P.R. 414 (N.S.C.A.), refd to. [para. 42].

Murdoch v. Murdoch, [1975] 1 S.C.R. 423; 13 R.F.L. 185 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 43].

Rathwell v. Rathwell (1978), 19 N.R. 91; 1 R.F.L.(2d) 1 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 43].

Becker v. Pettkus (1980), 34 N.R. 384; 19 R.F.L.(2d) 165 (S.C.C.), refd to. [paras. 46, 58-62].

Moore v. Moore (1975), 16 N.S.R.(2d) 220; 16 A.P.R. 220, refd to. [para. 51].

Boucher v. Boucher (1980), 32 N.B.R. 647; 78 A.P.R. 647, refd to. [para. 52].

Tree v. Lord (1981), 23 R.F.L.(2d) 235 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 53].

Coles v. Ferguson (1980), 13 R.F.L.(2d) 192 (Alta. C.A.), refd to. [para. 54].

Re Spears (1975), 52 D.L.R.(3d) 146, refd to. [para. 62].

Schupback v. Rambo (1981), 26 B.C.L.R. 154 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [paras. 64-67].

Rochon v. Emary (1981), 21 R.F.L.(2d) 366 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [paras. 68-70].

Burnham v. Burnham (1980), 21 R.F.L.(2d) 139 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 71].

Palchinski v. Lowe (1979), 12 R.F.L.(2d) 176 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 71].

Zyderveld - see VanZyderveld above.

Statutes Noticed:

Family Maintenance Act, S.N.S. 1980, c. 6, sect. 2(n) [para. 20]; sect. 4 [para. 22]; sect. 33 [para. 24]; sect. 35 [para. 26].

Counsel:

D.H. Oliver, for the applicant;

Robert W. Newman, for the respondent.

This case was heard on June 23, 1982, at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, before NIEDERMAYER, J.F.C., of the Nova Scotia Family Court, who delivered the following judgment on August 14, 1982: