Howarth and Howarth and Anor

In *Howarth and Howarth and Anor*, the husband sought a stay of collection of money owing under an overseas maintenance order, pending the determination of his application to discharge that order. The Child Support Registrar contended that the husband was not entitled to rely on section 111C of the *Child Support (Registration & Collection) Act 1988* (Cth) for the purpose of seeking a stay.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the husband could validly rely on section 111C of the *Child Support (Registration & Collection) Act 1988* (Cth) to seek a stay of collection of money owing under an overseas maintenance order, and if so, whether a stay should be granted in the exercise of the court's discretion. The husband also sought to discharge the overseas maintenance order pursuant to Regulation 36 of the *Family Law Regulations 1984* (Cth).

The court was satisfied that the husband could rely on section 111C of the *Child Support (Registration & Collection) Act 1988* (Cth) to seek a stay. However, after considering all the circumstances and exercising its discretion, the court declined to grant the stay. The court's reasoning for declining the stay was not detailed in the provided text, but the decision indicates a thorough consideration of the relevant legal principles and factual matrix.

Consequently, the application for interim orders made by the husband was dismissed.