Raleigh & Raleigh

In *Raleigh & Raleigh*, Watts J of the Family Court of Australia was required to determine the validity of a financial agreement entered into between the parties on 21 October 2003. The husband sought to rely on this agreement, while the wife sought to have it set aside.

The central legal issue before the court was whether the financial agreement was binding on the parties. This required an examination of the requirements for a financial agreement to be considered valid and binding under the relevant provisions of the Act, specifically concerning whether the agreement met the statutory criteria for enforceability.

Watts J found that the financial agreement was not binding. The reasoning applied by the court focused on the specific circumstances surrounding the execution of the agreement and whether it satisfied the statutory requirements for validity. Consequently, the husband's application for an order under s 90G(1B) of the Act was dismissed, and the financial agreement was set aside.

The court ordered that any competing applications for property settlement be listed for procedural directions before a Registrar on a date to be fixed by the Registrar.