CANTANOR & BEIDENHOPE

The Family Court of Australia, in the matter of *Cantanor & Beidenhope*, heard an undefended application by Ms Cantanor (the Wife) against Mr Beidenhope (the Husband). The proceedings concerned orders relating to the living arrangements of a child and the division of property. The Husband did not appear at the hearing.

The court was required to determine two primary legal issues: firstly, with whom a child of the marriage should live, and secondly, how the parties' property should be divided. In relation to the child, the court considered the long period of separation and the Husband's lack of contact. Regarding property, the court addressed the Wife's sole financial contributions post-separation and her significant contributions as homemaker and parent during the relationship.

In its reasoning, the court applied principles under the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth) concerning children's matters, noting the Husband had not seen the child for over four years and had made no attempts to communicate or exercise parental responsibility. Consequently, the court ordered that the child live with the Mother and that the Mother have sole parental responsibility. For property settlement, the court acknowledged the Husband's absence overseas since 2008 and the Wife's sole financial contributions to the former matrimonial home and other assets post-separation, as well as her substantial contributions as homemaker and parent.

The court made extensive orders for property settlement, with the Wife retaining the former matrimonial home, furniture, chattels, jewellery, personal belongings, motor vehicles, bank accounts, and superannuation entitlements. The Husband was ordered to relinquish his interest in the former matrimonial home and transfer certain assets to the Wife, including a cash payment of $183,861.56. The Husband was to retain his remaining assets, including overseas property, furniture, chattels, jewellery, personal belongings, motor vehicles, bank accounts, and superannuation entitlements. The Wife was to be solely responsible for liabilities in her name, excluding those dealt with in the orders, and was to indemnify the Husband in relation to those liabilities.