LIVINGSTON & LIVINGSTON

In the matter of *Livingston & Livingston*, heard before Judge Harland, the dispute concerned interim maintenance and the enforcement of child support obligations in circumstances where no formal child support application was before the court. The proceedings also involved an application to adduce further evidence during a part-heard hearing.

The central legal issues before the court were whether it had the power to make orders for interim maintenance in the absence of a pending child support application, and consequently, whether it could stay the enforcement of child support payments under such conditions. The court was also required to consider the admissibility of further evidence presented during the hearing.

Judge Harland determined that the court lacked the jurisdiction to grant interim maintenance or stay child support enforcement when no child support application was formally before it. The court reasoned that its powers in this regard were contingent upon the existence of such an application. Consequently, the application to adduce further evidence was dismissed as it related to issues outside the court's jurisdiction in this context. The court discharged previous orders made on 20 November 2014, dismissed specific orders from an application filed on 28 January, reserved costs, and listed the matter for a final hearing on 15 May 2015, directing the parties to file a joint balance sheet and written submissions on property issues by 12 May 2015.