DORSETT & GODARD

In the matter of *Dorsett & Godard*, heard before Justice Stevenson, the dispute concerned child support arrangements and adult child maintenance. The husband sought an equal contribution from the wife towards the child's school fees, which he had been solely paying. Conversely, the wife sought adult child maintenance from the husband for their daughter, who was undertaking university studies and required financial support.

The court was required to determine two primary legal issues. Firstly, whether there was a proper basis to vary the existing arrangements for the payment of school fees, specifically concerning the husband's claim for equal contribution from the wife. Secondly, the court had to consider the wife's application for adult child maintenance, assessing the husband's obligation to contribute financially to their daughter's university education.

Regarding the school fees, Justice Stevenson found that the husband had not advanced a proper basis for a change to the existing arrangements, and therefore, his application was dismissed. In relation to adult child maintenance, the court accepted that the adult child required financial support to complete her university degree. The husband did not contend that he lacked the financial capacity to provide such support, and the court did not accept that he should provide no financial support. Consequently, the court ordered the husband to pay adult child maintenance of $450 per week for Ms D until she completes her current university degree or ceases that course.