Ketridge and Ketridge

[2009] FamCA 62

FAMILY COURT OF AUSTRALIA

KETRIDGE & KETRIDGE [2009] FamCA 62

FAMILY LAW – PROPERTY – Consent orders

Family Law Act 1975 (Cth)

APPLICANT: Ms Ketridge

RESPONDENT: Mr Ketridge

FILE NUMBER: MLF 3089 of 2006

DATE DELIVERED: 3 February 2009

PLACE DELIVERED: Melbourne

PLACE HEARD: Melbourne

JUDGMENT OF: Cronin J

HEARING DATE: 3 February 2009

REPRESENTATION

COUNSEL FOR THE APPLICANT: Mr Brown

SOLICITOR FOR THE APPLICANT: Susan Snyder

COUNSEL FOR THE RESPONDENT: Mr G.R. Atkinson

SOLICITOR FOR THE RESPONDENT: Adams Maguire Sier

Orders

1. That BY CONSENT there be orders in accordance with the minutes of proposed orders marked Exhibit “A” sealed and attached hereto AND IT IS DIRECTED that such minutes remain upon the Court file.

2. That the solicitor for the wife engross the minutes and deliver them by electronic transmission to my Associate within 7 days.

IT IS NOTED that publication of this judgment under the pseudonym Ketridge & Ketridge is approved pursuant to s 121(9)(g) of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth)

FAMILY COURT OF AUSTRALIA AT MELBOURNE

FILE NUMBER: MLF 3089 of 2006

MS KETRIDGE

Applicant

And

MR KETRIDGE

Respondent

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

1. This is a matter that has been in my docket for some time.  The husband is a 60‑year‑old professional.  The wife has not been engaged in employment.  She is a bit older, she is 62.  It is a marriage of some 22 years and there is an independent adult child. 

2. The parties have come to a very sensible conclusion of these proceedings today, no doubt helped enormously by the lawyers who have worked diligently over the last few days to come to that resolution.  There has been very little argument in the material about contribution. 

3. The major issue was the question of the disparity between the parties' respective futures.  Mr Atkinson points out that the overall settlement works out at about 57 per cent to the wife in a pool of over $3 million and I can see this case has got a strong ring of commercial reality about it. 

4. In the circumstances, I am satisfied that the orders are just and equitable and in the matter of Ketridge I will make orders in terms of the minute, which I will mark as exhibit A.  I will direct that the minute remain on the court file.  I will ask the solicitor for the wife to engross and email the minute to my associate, within seven days if that is possible.

I certify that the preceding Four (4) paragraphs are a true copy of the reasons for judgment of the Honourable Justice Cronin

Associate:  Elizabeth Hore

Date:  6 February 2009