Geary and Geary

In *Geary and Geary*, Justice Austin of the Family Court of Australia made orders concerning the division of property and liabilities between the parties. The dispute centred on the distribution of various bank accounts, a line of credit, and other financial obligations, including those related to a property in Queensland.

The court was required to determine how specific monies held in trust should be distributed, how joint bank accounts should be closed and their balances allocated, and the respective liabilities of each party for existing and future debts, particularly those with ANZ Bank and the Commonwealth Bank. The court also needed to address the ownership of other assets and liabilities not specifically mentioned, and to provide a mechanism for the enforcement of its orders.

Justice Austin ordered that monies held in trust by the NSW Trustee and Guardian were to be paid solely to the husband. Joint ANZ bank accounts were to be closed, with any liabilities to ANZ Bank to be discharged first, and any surplus paid to the wife. The wife was to indemnify the husband against all liabilities connected with these ANZ accounts and any other ANZ liabilities. Furthermore, the wife was made solely legally responsible for any indebtedness to the Commonwealth Bank arising from a specific Viridian Line of Credit account, and she was to indemnify the husband against liabilities related to another Commonwealth Bank account and a loan associated with the Queensland property. All other assets in the possession of each party were to be considered their sole legal and beneficial ownership, with each party solely liable for debts attaching to those assets or in their sole names. The Registrar of the Family Court was empowered to execute documents if either party failed to do so within seven days of a written request. All outstanding applications were dismissed, and costs were reserved for 28 days.