DOCKLANDS & MARSHMAN

In this matter before the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory, the parties were Mr Docklands (applicant) and Ms Marshman (respondent). The dispute concerned property proceedings arising from a domestic relationship of short duration, involving assets and financial resources located in both the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales. The Court's jurisdiction was exercised pursuant to the Jurisdiction of Courts (Cross-vesting) Acts.

The primary legal issues before the Court were to determine the extent of the parties' contributions to their property, considering the short duration of their relationship, and to make orders for the division of their assets and financial resources. The Court was also required to consider the territorial application of the *Domestic Relationships Act 1994* (ACT) and the principles relating to "add-backs" as enunciated in *Hackshaw & Hackshaw* [2010] FamCA 1123.

The Court reasoned that, given the short duration of the relationship, a significant proportion of the net property should be awarded to the respondent. The Court ordered that the respondent be declared Trustee for sale of the property at K in the ACT, with the sale proceeds to be disbursed first to cover sale costs, statutory charges, and any outstanding mortgages. The balance was to be distributed with 80 per cent to the respondent and 20 per cent to the applicant. The applicant was also ordered to provide vacant possession of the ACT property and was restrained from making withdrawals from specific bank loan accounts, except for the purpose of making a payment to the respondent. Furthermore, the applicant was ordered to return specific chattels to the respondent within 30 days.