Keckwick and Claseby

This case concerned an application for property settlement orders between Ms Keckwick (the wife) and Mr Claseby (the husband) in the Family Court of Australia. The parties had been in a relationship for eight years, married for six, and separated in 2007. The dispute centred on the division of their assets following the breakdown of their marriage.

The primary legal issues before the court were whether it was just and equitable to alter the parties' interests in their property, and if so, what orders should be made pursuant to sections 79 and 75(2) of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). The court was required to consider the parties' respective financial and non-financial contributions to the relationship, as well as future needs and circumstances, in determining a fair property settlement. The wife had received significant interim property settlements during the proceedings.

Stevenson J considered the substantial disparity in the parties' initial financial contributions, with the husband's contributions vastly exceeding those of the wife. The court also noted the husband's financial support for the wife's four children from a previous marriage. Applying the principles from *Stanford v Stanford* [2012] HCA 52 and other relevant case law, the court assessed the contributions of each party. This assessment resulted in an initial division where the husband was to receive 87.5 per cent of the assets and the wife 12.5 per cent.

Ultimately, the court ordered that the husband pay the wife a sum of $218,700. Additionally, a further adjustment of 5 per cent in the wife's favour was made from the net pool of non-superannuation assets, reflecting considerations under s 75(2) of the *Family Law Act 1975*. The orders also detailed the division of specific assets, including real estate and motor vehicles, and addressed the splitting of superannuation interests.