Rittman and Rittman & Anor (No 3)

In the matter of *Rittman and Rittman & Anor (No 3)*, Barry J of the Family Court of Australia considered applications by the parties, Mr Rittman (the Applicant/Father) and the Wife, concerning property settlement and parenting arrangements for their child, O. The dispute involved the distribution of funds for legal costs and re-establishment expenses, as well as interim parenting orders for holiday time.

The court was required to determine the interim property distribution, specifically the allocation of sums for each party's legal costs and the Wife's re-establishment costs. Additionally, the court had to decide on interim parenting orders concerning holiday time for the child, O, with the Father seeking week-about arrangements and the Wife proposing holiday care. The court also ordered a financial mediation conference and directed the Independent Children's Lawyer to obtain a paediatrician's report on the child's medical needs.

Barry J ordered that the Wife's solicitors pay $120,000 to the Husband's solicitors and $170,000 to the Wife's solicitors, to be taken into account in the final property settlement. By consent, interim parenting orders were made for the Father to spend time with the child, O, on a week-about basis during school holidays, with specific arrangements for the 2009/2010 Christmas holidays and subsequent school breaks. The court also ordered, by consent, that the Independent Children's Lawyer obtain a report from a paediatrician regarding the child's medical needs, with the costs to be shared by the parties. Further directions were given for financial questionnaires, a joint balance sheet, a case information document, and a list of proposed witnesses, with deadlines set for 7 January 2010. The proceedings were adjourned for a financial mediation conference before a Registrar on 14 January 2010.