Porto and Porto (No. 2)

In the matter of Porto and Porto (No. 2), Dessau J of the Family Court of Australia considered applications made by both the husband and the wife. The dispute concerned financial matters within their marriage. The court was required to determine the extent of the husband's financial disclosure, particularly concerning his bank accounts held in Spain, and to manage the progression of the proceedings towards a final hearing.

The court was tasked with determining whether to dismiss certain applications made by the husband and the wife, and to establish a clear timetable for the exchange of financial information and the preparation for trial. A key issue was ensuring the husband provided full and frank disclosure of his financial position, including authorising the release of information from his Spanish bank accounts. The court also considered the appropriate procedural steps to facilitate the resolution of the financial proceedings.

Dessau J ordered the dismissal of specific paragraphs of the husband's application and the wife's amended application. The court directed that all existing applications be adjourned to a five-day hearing commencing on 8 November 2010. Crucially, the husband was ordered to provide written authorisation for specified Spanish banks to release all statements, notes, and correspondence relating to his accounts, from their opening to the present date. This authorisation was to be executed in a specific form, in the presence of the Spanish Consul or an International Notary, and if the husband failed to comply, a Registrar was empowered to sign the necessary documents pursuant to section 106A of the *Family Law Act 1975*. The court also granted a costs certificate to the wife for proceedings on 26 July 2010, which were discontinued due to the unavailability of a Portuguese interpreter.