Steele & Stanley

In Steele & Stanley, the husband and wife were before the court following a divorce. The wife brought an appeal against the original decision that dismissed her application for an order for spousal maintenance. The Court of Appeal was required to consider whether the lower court erred in its assessment of the wife's entitlement to spousal maintenance. The central legal issue was whether the lower court had erred in its assessment of the wife's financial circumstances and the duration of the marriage. The Court of Appeal held that the lower court's assessment of the wife's financial circumstances and the duration of the marriage was not flawed. The Court of Appeal held that the lower court had properly considered the relevant factors in determining the wife's entitlement to spousal maintenance, including the length of the marriage, the age and health of the parties, and the financial resources of the parties. The Court of Appeal also held that the lower court had not erred in its assessment of the wife's contribution to the marriage, including her contribution to the family home and her role as a homemaker. The Court of Appeal dismissed the wife's appeal and ordered that she pay the husband's costs of the appeal.