BOUIS & BOUIS

In *BOUIS & BOUIS*, heard by Watts J, the court considered applications by the wife for interim property settlement, spousal maintenance, and a child support departure order. The dispute centred on the wife's need for funds to meet her living expenses and legal costs, and the husband's capacity to provide these.

The primary legal issues before the court were whether to make orders for interim property settlement to fund the wife's legal proceedings, the appropriate quantum and duration of spousal maintenance, and whether to grant a child support departure order to supplement the statutory child support payments. The court was required to balance the parties' respective financial positions and needs in determining these matters.

Watts J reasoned that the wife required significant interim financial assistance to meet her ongoing expenses and legal costs, and that the husband had the capacity to provide this. The court ordered the husband to pay a substantial sum towards the wife's legal costs and living expenses, with specific provisions for the release and allocation of funds. In relation to spousal maintenance, the court ordered periodic payments of $700 per week, supplemented by specific expense payments for the wife's housing, vehicle, and other outgoings, deeming these to be reasonable expenditures. Furthermore, the court made a child support departure order, requiring the husband to pay periodic child support in addition to tuition and private school fees for the parties' children, until the finalisation of property proceedings.