BELASCO & BELASCO & ANOR

In the matter of *Belasco & Belasco & Anor*, Judge Blake of the Family Court of Australia considered a property dispute between the applicant wife and the first respondent husband. The second respondent, the husband's mother, was added to the proceedings to determine whether funds advanced by the applicant's parents constituted a loan requiring repayment.

The court was required to determine whether certain funds advanced by the applicant's parents were a loan to be repaid to the applicant, and to make orders for the division of the parties' property pool. Additionally, the court needed to consider the impact of the husband's significant contributions and to make adjustments for section 75(2) factors in favour of the wife.

Judge Blake found that the funds advanced by the applicant's parents were not loans, but rather a significant contribution to the property pool. The court reasoned that the nature of the advance indicated it was not intended to be repaid. Applying principles of property division in family law, the court determined that the property pool should be divided 60% in favour of the husband and 40% in favour of the wife, taking into account the husband's contributions and the wife's section 75(2) factors. The court also made detailed orders regarding the division of proceeds of sale, motor vehicles, bank accounts, and superannuation entitlements, including specific provisions for the trustee of the superannuation fund.