SPENGLER & THOMAS

In the matter of *Spengler & Thomas*, Berman J of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia made orders concerning the parental responsibility, residence, and time spent with a child, as well as property settlement and spousal maintenance. The dispute involved a wife seeking to relocate the child to Europe and a husband seeking to finalise financial matters.

The court was required to determine the arrangements for the child's future care and contact, including the practicalities of international relocation and shared parental responsibility. Additionally, the court needed to resolve the parties' financial claims, including the division of their assets and liabilities and the provision of spousal maintenance.

Berman J ordered that the parties share equal parental responsibility for the child, who would live with the wife. Crucially, the wife was permitted to relocate the child from Australia to Country V in Europe from 2 January 2018. The orders detailed specific arrangements for the child to spend time with the husband in Australia during European summer and Christmas holidays, and for the husband to spend time with the child in Country V, with provisions for travel arrangements and associated costs. The court also made comprehensive orders for property settlement, including the payment of a sum by the husband to the wife, the transfer of interests in specific assets, and the retention of other assets by each party. Spousal maintenance was ordered to be paid by the husband to the wife weekly, to be discharged upon the wife's relocation.