Robinson and Shelter (No. 2)

In the matter of *Robinson and Shelter (No. 2)*, Young J of the Supreme Court of Queensland considered an application by the wife concerning legal expenses and the distribution of sale proceeds from real properties. The dispute centred on how funds realised from the sale of three Queensland properties, previously ordered to be sold, should be allocated, particularly in relation to the wife's legal costs.

The primary legal issues before the Court were the immediate allocation of a portion of the sale proceeds to cover the wife's past and ongoing legal expenses, and the subsequent investment of the remaining balance pending further orders. The Court also had to determine the appropriate categorisation of the payment made for legal expenses, reserving this for a trial judge.

Young J ordered that $30,000 from the sale proceeds be paid to the wife's solicitors for her legal expenses. The categorisation of this payment was reserved for the trial judge, with both parties permitted to file affidavits on the matter. The remaining balance of the sale monies was to be invested by the wife's solicitors in an interest-bearing account for the benefit of both parties. The wife's application filed on 26 May 2009 was otherwise dismissed, and all other extant applications were adjourned for case management.