Divorce Lawyer Urges Formal Agreements for Family Loans
Former family lawyer Stacey Turner says parents lending children money for home purchases should document the arrangement before any funds change hands.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Divorce
Live Poll
Would you lend your child money for a home without a formal written agreement?
Divorce lawyer Stacey Turner has warned parents to put formal agreements in place when lending children money to buy a home. Her advice, shared in a TikTok video, comes as more young Australians turn to their parents to enter the property market.
Why it matters
Informal family loans can become contested when relationships or finances change, and a documented agreement sets clear expectations for both sides. Turner suggests family negotiations of this kind will become more common as property prices keep young buyers out of the market.
The illustration uses a $200,000 family loan, drawn from Stacey Turner's 25 years as a family and divorce lawyer. No data on how widespread these arrangements are has been reported.
The players
Stacey Turner
A former family and divorce lawyer with 25 years of experience who now works as a mediator and advises families on financial agreements.
The details
Turner, now a mediator, recommends a properly documented loan agreement or a binding financial agreement before money is transferred. She also advises parents to have the difficult conversations about the money upfront, before the transfer happens.
Timeline
Stacey Turner's TikTok video warning parents about lending money was shared on 14 November 2026.
Family Negotiation
Turner expects a new kind of family negotiation to become more common as young Australians rely on parental loans to get into a difficult property market. Her advice reflects that shift, moving family help from informal understandings to written terms.
Anyone considering a parental loan for a home should prepare a written loan agreement or binding financial agreement before any money is transferred. Raising the terms openly before the transfer can prevent later misunderstandings between family members.
The takeaway
Putting a family loan in writing protects both the lender and the borrower, whatever the relationship between them. Having the money conversation early makes the arrangement easier to honour years later.
Further reading
Explore more on divorce and how family money arrangements can be formalised.
Source note: This article includes information reported by News24.
Live Poll
Would you lend your child money for a home without a formal written agreement?
