Chow and Zu; Fang and Hung

In the matter of *Chow and Zu* and *Fang and Hung*, Hartnett J of the Family Court of Australia considered two separate applications for decrees of nullity concerning marriages that had been solemnised. In the first matter, the dispute concerned the validity of the marriage between Ms Chow and Mr Zu. In the second matter, the dispute concerned the validity of the marriage between Mr Fang and Ms Hung.

The court was required to determine whether the marriages were void. In relation to the *Fang and Hung* matter, a specific issue was whether the applicant had satisfied the residency requirements stipulated by sections 39(4)(a) and 39(4A) of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth).

For the marriage between Ms Chow and Mr Zu, the court found it to be void and granted a decree of nullity. Similarly, in the *Fang and Hung* matter, the court was satisfied that the applicant met the jurisdictional requirements of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth) and consequently declared the marriage void, granting a decree of nullity.