Government plans to review laws dictating how our property is divided when a marriage or relationship breaks up is being welcomed by a top lawyer.

Justice Minister Amy Adams has asked the law commission to review the 1967 property relationships act.

Trust litigation relationship property lawyer Deborah Chambers said it's in need of a few tweaks.

One area that she thinks needs improving is trusts - where people have put relationship property into trusts and are thereby able to avoid the act.  

"We've really fallen behind interantionally on that."  

Deborah Chambers said there's also issues where one person has decided to stay at home and look after children, and loses their source of income.