Sappho & Sappho

In the matter of *Sappho & Sappho*, Ms Sappho (the applicant wife) sought interim spousal maintenance and a lump sum by way of partial property settlement or litigation funding from Mr Sappho (the respondent husband). The wife also sought orders for the husband to pay her insurance premiums.

The court was required to determine the appropriate quantum of interim spousal maintenance, whether to order a lump sum payment for property settlement or litigation funding, and how to address the wife's request for payment of her insurance premiums. Additionally, the court needed to consider the outstanding issues regarding the property pool and future costs, which were not yet clear.

Berman J ordered the husband to pay the wife a lump sum of $20,000 by way of capitalised interim spousal maintenance, calculated at $521 per week from 20 January 2021. The court also ordered the husband to pay $1,000 towards the wife's trauma insurance premiums for a period of six months. The applications for a further lump sum for property settlement or litigation funding were adjourned for further hearing, with directions for the parties to provide detailed cost statements, including actual and estimated future costs, and expert witness expenses, to be filed and served by the adjourned date.