Bank of Mum and Dad

“We gave our child a deposit… and their ex walked away with half.” 

It’s one of the most common fears we hear from parents these days, and it’s not unfounded. 

With property prices continuing to surge, the Bank of Mum and Dad has quietly become one of Australia’s largest lenders. Parents are stepping in to help their adult children buy a home, often contributing hundreds of thousands of dollars, either as a gift or an informal loan. 

But here’s where things get tricky:
What happens when the relationship doesn’t last? 

We’ve seen it too often – generous parents hand over a deposit, their child moves in with a partner or gets married… and when things fall apart, that money becomes part of a messy property settlement. Suddenly, a well-intentioned gift has become an unexpected liability. 

💬 “We just wanted to help, but we didn’t expect to be dragged into the fallout.” 

The hesitation is real. And honestly, it’s wise. 

At Linton, we’ve worked with many families in this exact situation – wanting to support their children while still protecting their own financial future. It’s not about being overprotective or cynical, it’s about being smart and setting things up properly from the start. 

Here’s how we help: 

✔️ Family trusts that safeguard the contribution
✔️ Formal loan agreements that clearly document the terms
✔️ Ownership structures that reflect who’s really putting in what 

When you get the structure right, you reduce the emotional risk and protect the asset, without creating tension in the family dynamic. 

Because let’s face it: if you’re acting as the Bank of Mum and Dad, you need to think like one. 

No major bank would hand out hundreds of thousands without paperwork.  

Neither should you. 

Thinking about helping your kids into the market? We’ll show you how to do it generously…and wisely.