Sadler and Sadler and Ors

In the matter of *Sadler and Sadler and Ors*, Cleary J of the Family Court of Australia made orders concerning the addition of parties and the appointment of receivers. The proceedings involved the husband, the wife, and the husband's trustee in bankruptcy, with B Pty Ltd also being added as a respondent. The core of the dispute revolved around the management and preservation of assets held within various trusts and a superannuation fund, as well as the division of specific personal property.

The court was required to determine the necessity and scope of appointing joint and several receivers to manage the property and income of the Sadler Family Trust, the H Trust, and the I Superannuation Fund. Further issues included authorising the receivers' powers, establishing their remuneration, and outlining the co-operation required from the husband, wife, and trustee in bankruptcy. The court also addressed the transfer of specific assets, including jet skis and a trailer, and the resolution of an Energy Australia account.

Cleary J reasoned that the appointment of receivers was necessary to protect and manage the assets of the trusts and superannuation fund, granting them broad powers akin to those under s 420 of the *Corporations Act 2001*. The court ordered that the husband, wife, and trustee in bankruptcy must cooperate with the receivers by providing requested documents and information within 48 hours. Specific orders were made for the transfer of jet skis and trailers between the parties and the trustee, and for the husband to remove the wife's name from an Energy Australia account and reimburse her for a payment made on that account. The Registrar was appointed to execute documents if any party failed to comply.

The court granted leave for the applicant wife and any other party to file and serve costs applications within 28 days.