Clayton and Bant

The proceedings before Forrest J concerned a dispute between the Applicant mother and the Respondent father regarding parenting matters. The court was required to determine the quantum of costs to be paid by the Respondent father to the Applicant mother in relation to the parenting proceedings.

The central legal issue before the court was the assessment and award of costs incurred by the Applicant mother in the parenting proceedings. This involved considering the nature of the proceedings, the duration, and the overall circumstances to arrive at a just and reasonable sum.

Forrest J ordered that the Respondent father pay the costs of the Applicant mother, fixed in the sum of $160,665.12. These costs were to be paid within thirty days of the order and encompassed all costs incidental to the parenting proceedings from 3 November 2016 up to the date of judgment, 18 October 2018.