Rickwood & Rickwood

In the matter of *Rickwood & Rickwood*, heard by Murphy J of the Family Court of Australia, the dispute concerned the division of property between the parties pursuant to section 79 of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth).

The court was required to determine how the parties' assets and liabilities should be divided, specifically addressing the distribution of funds held in trust by the wife's solicitors and the allocation of various liabilities.

Murphy J ordered that each party retain the property currently in their possession. From the funds held in trust by the wife's solicitors, certain enumerated liabilities totalling $78,190.50 were to be paid. Of the remaining balance, 70% was to be paid to the wife, and the remaining 30% was to be applied first to the husband's unpaid hearing fee of $534.00, with any further balance to be paid to the husband. Additionally, each party was to be solely responsible for and indemnify the other in respect of all liabilities in their respective names or for which they were otherwise responsible.