Trustee for the Bankrupt Estate of Vranic and Vranic & Ors

In the matter of the Trustee for the Bankrupt Estate of Vranic and Vranic & Ors, Justice Cohen of the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia considered an application by the wife for final orders under section 79 of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). The proceedings involved the wife seeking orders against various respondents, including the trustee of the bankrupt estate of Mr Vranic. The trustee had filed an application seeking to be joined as a party to the proceedings, which the court addressed in its orders.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the trustee of the bankrupt estate of Mr Vranic should be joined as a party to the family law proceedings initiated by the wife. This involved considering the appropriate procedural steps for joining a trustee in bankruptcy to such proceedings and the court's power to make orders in relation to the bankrupt's property. The court also had to determine the application by the trustee filed on 25 August 2010.

Justice Cohen ordered that the trustee of the bankrupt estate of Mr Vranic be joined as the Fourth Respondent to the proceedings. This joinder was to facilitate the wife's application for final orders concerning property. The court further directed the wife to file and serve a memorandum specifying the final orders sought against each respondent within 14 days. The matter was then adjourned for further directions. Crucially, the court dismissed paragraph one of the trustee's application filed on 25 August 2010, and costs were reserved.