Rooke and Benlow and Ors

This matter came before Dessau J in the Family Court of Australia concerning an application by Ms Satsi. The dispute involved the sale of a property and the management of its proceeds, with an application to join the husband's mother, Ms D Benlow, as a party.

The court was required to determine the appropriate interim orders regarding the proceeds of the sale of the property, including whether to restrain the parties from dealing with those proceeds other than in a specific manner. The court also considered the timing for any application to join Ms Benlow to the proceedings and the execution of necessary authorities for the payment of sale proceeds.

Dessau J ordered that the applicant, Ms Satsi, must execute irrevocable authorities directing that the net proceeds of the property sale be paid into an interest-bearing trust account held by the respondent's solicitors, pending joint instructions or further court order. In default of Ms Satsi executing these authorities within 48 hours of a written request, a Registrar of the Family Court was empowered to execute them on her behalf pursuant to section 106A of the *Family Law Act 1975*. Ms Satsi and Mr Benlow were restrained from directing the payment of the sale proceeds otherwise than in accordance with these orders. The application to join Ms Benlow was adjourned, with directions for filing and service of any such application.