Whent and Marbrand

In the matter of *Whent and Marbrand*, heard before Judge Williams, the husband sought property settlement. The wife opposed this application. The court was required to determine whether the husband was entitled to pursue a property settlement claim, given the circumstances of the parties' separation and the husband's conduct.

The central legal issue was whether the husband's application for property settlement should be dismissed. This involved considering the husband's actions, including the lodging of caveats over the wife's property, and whether these actions disentitled him from seeking a property adjustment. The court also had to consider the appropriate orders to make regarding the parties' respective entitlements to property and liabilities.

Judge Williams dismissed the husband's application for property settlement. The court reasoned that the husband's conduct, particularly the lodging of caveats over the wife's property, was vexatious and demonstrated a lack of good faith. Consequently, the court ordered the husband to withdraw any caveats lodged over the wife's property within seven days and to indemnify the wife against all his past, present, and future liabilities. Each party was otherwise declared solely entitled to their respective superannuation and other property, and solely liable for any liabilities encumbering that property.