Mulcahy and Panchal and Anor

In the matter of *Mulcahy and Panchal and Anor*, Justice Macmillan of the Supreme Court of Victoria made orders concerning spousal maintenance and the valuation of a company in proceedings between a de facto couple. The dispute involved claims for income protection payments and the financial affairs of a third-party company, B Pty Ltd.

The court was required to determine the terms of interim spousal maintenance to be paid by the de facto husband to the de facto wife, particularly in light of potential income protection policy payments. Additionally, the court needed to address the valuation of B Pty Ltd, a company in which the parties had an interest, and the procedural steps required for its assessment. The court also considered an application for an extension of time for the de facto husband to file and serve certain documents.

Justice Macmillan ordered that the de facto husband facilitate any claims he had under income protection policies and, while receiving payments from such policies, pay the de facto wife $1,000 per week by way of spousal maintenance, commencing from 1 July 2014. The court also extended the time for the de facto husband to file and serve documents until 28 July 2014. Furthermore, the de facto husband, de facto wife, and B Pty Ltd were ordered to engage an accountant to value B Pty Ltd, with the costs to be shared equally. The de facto wife's costs of recent applications were reserved, and all extant applications were adjourned for further hearing. The court also noted that if the de facto husband failed to comply with the filing and service extension, the de facto wife would have liberty to apply to proceed on an undefended basis.