STREETON & STREETON

In *Streeton & Streeton*, the applicant wife sought leave to institute proceedings against the respondent husband for property settlement under section 79 of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). The matter came before Judge McGuire of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia.

The primary legal issue before the Court was whether the applicant wife should be granted leave to commence property settlement proceedings, given the time that had elapsed since the parties' separation.

Judge McGuire granted the wife leave to institute proceedings. The Court also made orders for the parties to attend a conciliation conference and directed that, in the absence of agreement on asset valuations within 28 days, the parties were to obtain valuations on affidavit no later than 14 days before the conciliation conference, or alternatively, arrange joint valuations at their shared expense.