George and George (No. 2)

In *George and George (No. 2)*, Watts J of the Family Court of Australia considered applications by the husband seeking a stay of property settlement orders made on 27 January 2015. The dispute centred on the husband's ability to comply with the original property settlement orders and his subsequent appeal.

The primary legal issues before the court were whether to grant the husband's applications for a stay of the property settlement orders, and if not, what conditions should be imposed on the refusal of the stay. The court also had to determine variations to the original property settlement orders regarding the timing of payments and the terms of the wife's occupation and management of a specific property.

Watts J dismissed the husband's applications for a stay of the property settlement orders, subject to certain conditions. The court varied the original orders by altering the timeframe for a payment from "within three (3) months from the date of these orders" to "on or before 4 June 2015," with a requirement for the husband to pay interest on a specified sum from 27 April 2015 to the date of payment. Crucially, the refusal of the stay was conditional upon the wife ensuring the property remained in her sole name, not encumbering it beyond $650,000 without agreement or further order, occupying the property, and providing notice if she vacated, with the husband having liberty to apply to re-occupy. The husband was also ordered to pay the wife $600 per week from 27 April 2015 until he vacated the property. The court reserved costs.