UNSWORTH & UNSWORTH

In *Unsworth & Unsworth*, the Full Court of the Family Court of Australia considered an appeal concerning property settlement orders made by a single judge. The primary dispute revolved around the division of assets and liabilities between the parties, who were formerly married.

The Full Court was required to determine whether the primary judge erred in their assessment of the parties' contributions, both financial and non-financial, to the marriage. Specifically, the appeal raised questions about the weight given to each party's contributions and whether the final property division was just and equitable in all the circumstances.

Johns J, delivering the judgment of the Full Court, applied the principles of property settlement under the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). The Court reviewed the evidence presented at trial and the primary judge's findings, focusing on whether the judge had properly considered all relevant factors, including the length of the marriage, the parties' ages and health, and their respective financial resources and needs. The Court affirmed that the ultimate aim of property settlement is to achieve a just and equitable outcome, which involves a careful balancing of contributions and future needs. The appeal was ultimately dismissed, with the Full Court finding no error in the primary judge's orders.