FLORIN & JOKELA (COSTS)

This matter concerned an application for costs by the applicant mother against the respondent father following parenting orders proceedings before Forrest J. The specific dispute before the court was the quantum and method of payment of the mother's costs.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the respondent father should be ordered to pay a contribution towards the applicant mother's costs, and if so, the amount of that contribution and how it should be discharged.

Forrest J ordered the respondent father to pay $90,000 towards the applicant mother's costs. This liability was to be fully discharged by the payment of this sum, which was currently held in the trust account of the applicant mother's solicitors. The funds in question were deposited by the applicant mother upon the sale of a vessel.