Archer and Archer

In the matter of *Archer and Archer*, heard before Young J, the applicant wife sought orders relating to her divorce and property settlement from the respondent husband, who did not appear. The proceedings concerned the wife's application for divorce and ancillary property orders, with the court addressing issues of service and interim property settlement.

The court was required to determine whether to dispense with further service of the divorce application on the husband, to make interim orders regarding the division of property, and to set a timetable for the final determination of property orders. The court also considered the procedure for serving amended applications and the husband's potential non-appearance at the final hearing.

Young J ordered that further service of the divorce application be dispensed with. An interim property settlement was made, allowing the wife's solicitors to withdraw $100,000 from a trust account, with the balance to remain invested. The court directed the wife's solicitor to file and serve an amended application for final property orders, to be served on the husband by email and registered post, along with a letter of explanation and a sealed copy of the orders. The matter was adjourned for final property orders, with the court indicating it would proceed undefended if the husband failed to appear or be represented. The wife's costs for the hearing were fixed at $1,400, with payment deferred to the adjourned hearing.