PAPPAS & PAPPAS

In the matter of *Pappas & Pappas*, Stevenson J made orders by consent between the parties. The dispute concerned the division of property and financial matters, including the management of a jointly owned property and the settlement of outstanding financial obligations.

The court was required to determine the terms of consent orders relating to the discharge of a previous order, the establishment and operation of an offset account for a joint home loan, the transfer of funds to this offset account, and the payment of mortgage arrears. Further issues addressed included the extension of time for the husband to comply with previous disclosure orders, the provision of specific financial documents and inventories, and the authorisation for accountants to collaborate on tax return preparation. The court also needed to order the distribution of funds from a controlled monies account as partial property settlement.

Stevenson J applied the principles of consent orders, reflecting the agreement of the parties on the resolution of their financial matters. The reasoning involved structuring the orders to ensure the orderly management of the joint property and loan, the timely payment of arrears, and the facilitation of full financial disclosure. The court also addressed the practicalities of property settlement by directing specific payments from a controlled monies account to both parties.

By consent, the court ordered the discharge of a previous order and the establishment of an offset account for the parties' joint home loan, requiring both parties' signatures for operation except for loan repayments. Funds from a NAB account were to be transferred to this offset account, and approximately $14,000 in mortgage arrears was to be paid from a controlled monies account. The husband's time to comply with previous disclosure orders was extended, and he was directed to provide various financial documents and inventories. The parties were also ordered to facilitate payments from the controlled monies account, with $150,000 to the husband and $300,000 to the wife as partial property settlement.