Mitford and Cilea (No. 2)

In *Mitford and Cilea (No. 2)*, Tree J of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia considered an application for costs following earlier proceedings between the husband and wife. The dispute concerned the wife's liability to pay the husband's costs for legal representation at a hearing on 22 June 2018.

The primary legal issue before the Court was whether it was reasonable for the husband to have engaged counsel to appear on his behalf on the specified date. This determination was crucial in assessing the quantum and entitlement to the husband's costs.

Tree J reasoned that the husband's engagement of counsel was indeed reasonable. The Court applied the principles governing the award of costs in family law matters, which generally allow for the recovery of costs where it is considered reasonable to incur them. Having found reasonableness, the Court ordered that the wife pay the husband's costs on a party/party basis.

The Court ordered that the wife pay the husband's costs, assessed at $4,967.04. This order was subject to the formal entry of the order in the Court's records.