Winch and Winch

This matter came before Murphy J of the Family Court of Australia concerning an application for settlement of property. The proceedings involved the Wife, the Husband (represented by the Public Trustee of Queensland), and two other individuals, Ms R and Mr J Winch.

The primary legal issue before the Court was the determination of property settlement orders pursuant to section 79 of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). This required the Court to ascertain the specific orders sought by each party and the factual findings necessary to support those orders.

Murphy J directed the Public Trustee, on behalf of the Husband, to file and serve a further amended application detailing the specific orders sought under section 79, and to join Ms R and Mr J Winch as respondents to that application. The Public Trustee was also ordered to file an affidavit in support of the Husband's section 79 application, outlining the matters requiring court findings. Leave was granted to incorporate relevant parts of existing affidavits. The Wife, Ms R, and Mr J Winch were each ordered to file and serve their respective responses and supporting affidavits detailing the orders they sought. A compliance check was scheduled prior to the trial date.