Higginson and Higginson and Anor

In *Higginson and Higginson and Anor*, the applicant sought orders against the respondent, his former wife, and a company, concerning the division of property. The dispute centred on the applicant's claim that the respondent had dissipated assets of the marriage, thereby reducing the pool of property available for division.

The primary legal issue before Aldridge J was whether the respondent had indeed dissipated marital assets and, if so, what orders should be made to account for this dissipation. The court was required to determine the nature and extent of any dissipation and its impact on the just and equitable division of the parties' property under the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth).

Aldridge J found that the respondent had dissipated assets of the marriage. The court's reasoning involved an assessment of the respondent's conduct in relation to the marital property, considering whether her actions were designed to reduce the applicant's entitlement. The principles applied related to the court's power to make orders to counteract asset dissipation in property settlement proceedings. The court directed the parties to provide a minute of order to give effect to its reasons and stood the matter over for mention.