HILTON & LONGHURST

In the matter of Hilton & Longhurst, Fowler J of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia determined the financial settlement between a husband and wife. The dispute concerned the division of property and liabilities, including a property located in Thailand.

The court was required to determine how the parties' assets and debts should be divided, and to make orders regarding the payment of costs. Specifically, the court had to consider the wife's interest in the Thai property and a debt owed to her parents, as well as the general division of other assets and liabilities. The wife's application for spouse maintenance was not pressed.

Fowler J ordered the husband to pay the wife a sum of $699,455. Upon this payment, the wife was to transfer her interest in the Thai property to the husband. The husband was also ordered to discharge a debt of $8,607 owed to the wife's parents, including any accrued interest, or pay this sum to the wife if she had already settled the debt. Each party was to retain their existing property and remain liable for their own debts, except as otherwise ordered. The husband was also ordered to pay the wife's costs of and incidental to applications for substituted service on an indemnity basis, and her other costs on a party-party basis.