SUVARI & SUVARI

In *Suvari & Suvari*, Rees J of the Family Court of Australia considered an application for spousal maintenance. The dispute concerned the quantum and form of spousal maintenance to be paid by the husband to the wife.

The primary legal issue before the court was to determine the appropriate level of spousal maintenance, considering the financial circumstances of both parties and the need to ensure the wife's financial needs were met. The court also had to consider how these payments should be structured, including the husband's responsibility for certain ongoing expenses and the treatment of funds held within a family trust.

Rees J ordered the husband to pay the wife $600 per week by way of spousal maintenance. In addition, the husband was ordered to meet specific ongoing expenses, including mortgage instalments, health insurance premiums, and strata levies, water rates, and council rates. The court also directed the husband to indemnify the wife against any tax liability arising from the spousal maintenance payments. Furthermore, the court made orders concerning the management and disposition of specific funds held in a mortgage account, requiring these funds to be transferred to a joint account operated by both parties and to be used only by their joint agreement.