Hartanto and Hartanto

The matter of *Hartanto and Hartanto* came before Young J of the Family Court of Australia in Melbourne. The proceedings concerned the resolution of financial and other issues arising from the breakdown of a long marriage between the applicant husband and the respondent wife. The parties had successfully resolved all matters through mediation, leading to a settlement that was presented to the court for final orders.

The court was required to determine the terms of the final orders that would give effect to the parties' mediated settlement. These terms encompassed the division of various assets, including the former matrimonial home, Sydney units, shares in Victorian companies, a company known as H Company, a family trust, and Indonesian entities. The orders also addressed the allocation of liabilities, taxation responsibilities, and the costs associated with the proceedings.

Young J's reasoning focused on the parties' agreement and the pragmatic nature of their settlement. The court noted that the parties, with the benefit of legal and accounting advice, understood the finality of the orders and the division of assets, which was generally described as approximately 55% to the wife and 45% to the husband. The judge formally declared the orders to be just and equitable under section 79(2) of the relevant Act, finding that both parties were fully informed of their financial circumstances. The court made final orders reflecting the terms of the settlement, which included the transfer of property interests, the discharge of liabilities, and the dismissal of all extant applications, with the intention of avoiding further proceedings.