Qinlang and Xin & Ors

In the matter of *Qinlang and Xin & Ors*, Gill J of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia was required to determine costs orders following earlier proceedings. The dispute concerned applications filed by the parties, with the court's decision focusing on the allocation of legal costs.

The primary legal issue before the court was the appropriate order for costs pursuant to Section 117(2) of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). This involved determining which party should bear the costs associated with specific applications filed by the First Respondent and the Applicant's response to an earlier application.

Gill J ordered that the First Respondent pay half of the Applicant's costs relating to her Response to an Application in a Case filed on 15 May 2020. Furthermore, the First Respondent was ordered to pay the Applicant's costs for the Application in a Case filed by the First Respondent on 28 May 2020. The court also set out a detailed process for any party seeking costs in relation to the costs determination itself, requiring written submissions within specified timeframes. The proceedings were otherwise transferred to the Registrar's list pending further application or trial directions.