Gairola & Lakmali

In the matter of *Gairola v Lakmali*, heard by Hartnett J, the applicant husband and respondent wife sought the apportionment of their property interests following a cohabitation period of approximately fifteen years and the birth of two children. The applicant sought a division of the net asset pool, with the court required to assess contributions and ensure a just and equitable distribution.

The central legal issues before the court concerned the assessment of the parties' respective contributions to the marriage and the ultimate division of their property pool in a manner that was just and equitable. This included considerations of any "add-backs" that might be relevant to the net asset pool.

Hartnett J ordered the distribution of funds held in the Starnet Legal Trust Account, with the husband to receive $154,702.18 and the wife $330,005.80. Any accrued interest was to be apportioned 37% to the husband and 63% to the wife. Monies in a joint NAB account were to become the sole property of the wife within 14 days, with the husband to facilitate this transfer. Both parties were to forego claims to each other's superannuation benefits. Each party was declared solely entitled to property in their possession, with mutual indemnification for liabilities attaching to that property. All other extant applications were dismissed.