DEEGAN & DEEGAN

This case concerned parenting and property disputes between the Deeans. The primary parenting dispute involved the amount of time the father should spend with the parties' two young children, with allegations that the mother had impeded his time. In relation to property, the dispute centred on whether it was just and equitable for the wife to retain the family home, and the wife sought certain items to be treated as "add-backs" to the asset pool.

The court was required to determine the most appropriate parenting orders for the children, considering the allegations of impeded time and the overarching principle of the children's best interests. It also had to decide on the equitable distribution of the parties' assets, specifically addressing the wife's claim for "add-backs" and the retention of the family home.

The court discharged all previous parenting orders and established equal shared parental responsibility. The children were ordered to live with the mother, with detailed provisions outlining the time the children would spend with the father, including during school terms, holidays, and special occasions, with specific arrangements for communication. In relation to property, the wife was ordered to discharge the mortgage on the family home and pay a sum to the husband, after which he would transfer his interest in the property to her. The wife was also to receive the husband's interest in a motor vehicle. The orders stipulated that if the wife failed to meet these obligations, the property would be sold, with proceeds distributed to cover sale costs, the mortgage, joint debts, and then the remainder divided 70% to the wife and 30% to the husband. The parties were also assigned responsibility for specific joint debts and individual assets, with provisions for the division of joint bank accounts and a mutual release of claims to inheritances and superannuation.