17Prerequisites for making of order—length of relationship etc

#### 17 Prerequisites for making of order—length of relationship etc 17 Prerequisites for making of order—length of relationship etc > > (1) Except as provided by subsection (2), a court shall not make an order under this Part unless it is satisfied that the parties to the application have lived together in a domestic relationship for a period of not less than 2 years. > > > (2) A court may make an order under this Part where it is satisfied— > > > > > (a) that there is a child of the parties to the application, or > > > > > (b) that the applicant— > > > > > > > (i) has made substantial contributions of the kind referred to in section 20 (1) (a) or (b) for which the applicant would otherwise not be adequately compensated if the order were not made, or > > > > > > > (ii) has the care and control of a child of the respondent, > > > > > > and that the failure to make the order would result in serious injustice to the applicant. > > **s 17:** Am 1999 No 4, Sch 1 \[15\].