Towns and Towns (No 2)

This matter concerned an application by Legal Aid NSW for orders requiring Mr Towns, the respondent father, to contribute to the costs of the Independent Children’s Lawyer (ICL) appointed to represent the subject children. The dispute arose in the context of family law proceedings concerning the children.

The central legal issue before Cleary J was whether Mr Towns should be ordered to pay a contribution towards the costs incurred by the ICL for their representation of the children during specific periods in late 2018 and early 2019.

Cleary J determined that Mr Towns was liable to contribute to these costs. The court ordered Mr Towns to pay Legal Aid NSW the sum of $4,216 within 28 days as his contribution to the ICL's costs.