Grevitt and Jix

In the matter of *Grevitt and Jix*, heard before Cronin J, the wife sought orders concerning the children of the marriage and the husband's financial assets. The dispute involved an application by the wife for urgent interim orders, including orders for the children to live with her and to prevent their removal from Australia, as well as freezing orders in relation to the husband's bank accounts.

The court was required to determine whether to grant the wife leave to proceed with her application without notice to the husband, and to make interim orders regarding the children's residence and their travel, specifically preventing their removal from the Commonwealth of Australia. Additionally, the court considered whether to impose restraining orders on the husband's specified bank accounts in the United Kingdom and Australia.

Cronin J reasoned that the circumstances warranted the granting of interim orders to protect the children and preserve the marital assets pending further determination. The court applied principles relating to the welfare of children and the need to prevent the dissipation of assets in family law proceedings. Consequently, the court ordered that the children live with the wife and restrained both parties from removing the children from Australia, requesting the Australian Federal Police to place the children's names on the Airport Watch List. The court also made orders restraining the husband from dealing with his specified bank accounts and directed service of the orders and application on the relevant banks and the husband. The court reserved costs and included a fact sheet detailing the obligations and consequences of contravening the orders.