Sigley and Cullen (No 4)

In *Sigley and Cullen (No 4)*, Cronin J of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia considered an application for costs following earlier proceedings between the wife and the husband. The dispute concerned the division of property and related financial matters.

The court was required to determine the appropriate orders for costs, specifically in relation to proceedings before Registrar Field and two days of trial that occurred in September 2015. The wife sought to avoid paying the husband's costs, while the husband sought an order for his costs.

Cronin J ordered that the wife pay the husband's costs on a party and party basis for the proceedings before Registrar Field. Furthermore, the wife was ordered to pay 50 per cent of the husband's costs for the two days of trial in September 2015, specifically relating to the costs of briefing counsel, counsel and solicitor attendance, and the preparation of any summary of argument, but excluding affidavit material. In the event that the parties could not agree on the quantum of these costs, they were to be assessed.