Docklands and Marshman (Costs)

In the matter of *Docklands and Marshman (Costs)*, the applicant, Mr Docklands, sought costs against the respondent, Ms Marshman, in proceedings initiated in the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory concerning a domestic relationship. The proceedings were subsequently transferred to the Family Court of Australia.

The central legal issue before the Court was the appropriate exercise of its jurisdiction to award costs in circumstances where the matter originated in a state Supreme Court and was transferred to the Family Court, particularly in relation to the application of the *Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-vesting) Acts*. The Court was required to determine whether costs should be awarded and, if so, on what basis and in accordance with which rules.

The Court ordered that Mr Docklands pay Ms Marshman’s costs of and incidental to the application. These costs were to be assessed in accordance with the *Court Procedure Rules 2006* (ACT), with the respondent directed to file a Bill of Costs within twenty-one days. All extant applications were discharged, and the matter was removed from the Pending Cases Inventory.