Trendor and Trendor

In *Trendor and Trendor*, Baumann J of the Family Court of Australia considered applications made by the husband for spousal maintenance, a partial property adjustment, and litigation funding. The wife sought orders relating to the appointment of a single expert to value the parties' property and conduct a forensic analysis of their financial accounts.

The primary legal issues before the court were whether the husband was entitled to spousal maintenance and a property adjustment, and the terms upon which a single expert should be appointed to value the parties' assets and investigate their financial dealings. The court also had to determine the allocation of costs for the expert's report.

Baumann J dismissed the husband's applications for spousal maintenance and a property adjustment. However, the court ordered the appointment of a single expert to report on the value of the property, including a forensic analysis of all bank and investment accounts held by the parties and related entities from 24 December 2007 to the present date. The wife was to nominate one of three specified accountants for this role, with the expert to be provided with joint instructions or separate instructions if agreement could not be reached. The parties were to comply with the expert's reasonable requests for information, and the costs of the expert, up to $50,000, were to be paid equally from funds held in trust. The costs of the husband's amended application were reserved to the trial.