Patterson and Patterson (No. 2)

In *Patterson and Patterson (No. 2)*, Stevenson J of the Family Court of Australia considered an application concerning costs following earlier proceedings between the wife and husband. The dispute revolved around the appropriate allocation of legal expenses incurred by the parties.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether to make any orders regarding the costs of the application, and if so, on what basis. Specifically, the court had to determine the extent to which each party should bear their own costs or contribute to the costs of the other, particularly in relation to a specific hearing on 2 November 2007.

Stevenson J ordered that the wife pay the husband's costs of the 2 November 2007 hearing on a party-party basis, to be paid within three months. However, the court made no order as to the costs of the application itself, meaning each party was to bear their own costs for that specific application.