McLaren and Zerafa and Ors

In the matter of *McLaren and Zerafa*, Rees J of the Family Court of Australia considered a dispute between the applicant and the respondent concerning financial matters. The proceedings involved the division of property and the provision of maintenance.

The court was required to determine the appropriate financial orders to be made between the parties, specifically addressing the payment of a lump sum, the distribution of proceeds from the sale of a unit property, and the satisfaction of maintenance obligations, including any arrears. The court also had to consider the interplay between these various financial components.

Rees J ordered the respondent to pay the applicant $40,000 by a specified date. Further, from the proceeds of the sale of a unit property, $105,000 was to be paid to the applicant as maintenance under s 90SG of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). Any maintenance arrears outstanding at the time of the property's settlement were to be satisfied from these sale proceeds. The court also confirmed that an earlier order for $50,000 from the sale proceeds, in addition to the s 90SG maintenance, would stand.