Jobbsin and Jobbsin (No. 2)

In *Jobbsin and Jobbsin (No. 2)*, Justice Cronin of the Family Court of Australia considered applications for spousal maintenance and legal costs in proceedings between a husband and wife. The dispute concerned financial support for the wife and the allocation of legal expenses incurred by both parties during their litigation.

The court was required to determine the appropriate level of spousal maintenance to be paid by the husband to the wife, and how the parties' legal costs should be managed and paid. Additionally, the court needed to decide on the disposition of outstanding interim proceedings and the necessity of briefing counsel.

Justice Cronin ordered the husband to pay spousal maintenance of $345 per week until further order, with the first payment due on 31 October 2008. The husband was also directed to draw down $10,000 from the mortgage on the parties' home, to be paid to the wife for litigation purposes, to be considered as a partial distribution of property, costs, or maintenance by the trial judge. Furthermore, any legal costs exceeding $10,000 paid by the husband to his legal practitioners, advisors, and expert witnesses were to be matched by an equal contribution towards the wife's legal costs. The husband was also ordered to meet the mortgage obligations on the former matrimonial home. All outstanding proceedings were to be transferred to the Federal Magistrates Court for listing, and all interim proceedings were dismissed. The husband was ordered to pay the wife's interim legal costs, fixed at $7,000, to be satisfied from his ultimate property settlement entitlement. Justice Cronin certified that it was appropriate for counsel to be briefed.