Surridge and Surridge and Anor

In the matter of *Surridge and Surridge and Anor*, Foster J of the Family Court of Australia considered an application concerning costs. The proceedings involved a dispute between a husband and a wife, with the wife being the applicant for costs.

The central legal issue before the court was the appropriate allocation of costs between the parties following the conclusion of the subject proceedings. Specifically, the court was required to determine the proportion of the wife's costs that the husband should be ordered to pay on a party/party basis.

Foster J ordered that the husband pay 80 per cent of the wife’s costs on a party/party basis. These costs are to be assessed or agreed upon and paid by the husband within two months of such assessment or agreement.