CHAMBLIN & CHAMBLIN

In the matter of CHAMBLIN & CHAMBLIN, Judge Howard of the Family Court of Australia made orders concerning interim property settlement and the payment of legal fees. The dispute involved the wife's application for orders to facilitate the payment of her outstanding legal fees and costs associated with the proceedings.

The court was required to determine how to provide interim financial assistance to the wife for her legal expenses, considering the principles of property settlement under the *Family Law Act 1975*. Specifically, the court needed to address the allocation of funds from the sale of various assets, including a property, a share portfolio, and two other properties held by a family trust, to satisfy these legal costs.

Judge Howard applied the principles of interim property settlement to ensure the wife could meet her legal obligations. The court ordered the immediate payment of specific sums from the proceeds of sale of a property and a share portfolio to the wife's solicitors, Murdoch Lawyers Pty Ltd, to cover outstanding legal fees and future costs. Further, the court directed the sale of two properties held by a family trust, outlining a detailed priority for the disbursement of sale proceeds, which included discharging secured liabilities, covering sale costs, and then allocating any remaining balance to the wife's solicitors for her legal costs. The orders also provided for the Registrar to execute documents if a party defaulted and allowed the applicant to seek further orders for additional legal costs upon proper notice.