Bale-Sutch and Bale-Sutch (No 3)

In *Bale-Sutch and Bale-Sutch (No 3)*, the Honourable Justice Cronin of the Family Court of Australia considered an application concerning costs. The dispute arose between the husband and wife following earlier proceedings.

The primary legal issue before the Court was the determination of costs payable by the husband to the wife for specific hearing dates. The Court was required to decide whether to order the husband to pay the wife's costs for 15 January 2010 and 18 January 2010, and if so, on what basis.

Justice Cronin ordered that the husband pay the wife's costs for the specified dates, either by agreement between the parties or, failing agreement, as assessed by a registrar. Furthermore, the Court certified that it was reasonable for the wife to engage counsel for those dates, fixing counsel's fees at $1800 per day for each of the two days, pursuant to Order 19.50 of the *Family Law Rules 2004*.