Wolter and Wolter (No. 2)

In *Wolter & Wolter (No. 2)*, the Family Court of Australia considered applications by both the husband and wife concerning alleged contraventions of previous orders, as well as applications for costs. The husband alleged 23 contraventions by the wife, while the wife alleged three contraventions by the husband. The court also addressed the wife's request for security for her costs.

The primary legal issues before the court were whether the wife had contravened any of the final orders made on 21 December 2012, and if so, the seriousness of such contraventions. Additionally, the court had to determine whether the husband had contravened any parenting orders, and whether the wife was entitled to indemnity costs for certain applications and security for her overall costs.

Rees J found that only one of the husband's 23 alleged contraventions by the wife was valid, relating to her failure to maintain current passports for the children. However, this was categorised as a "less serious contravention," and no penalty was imposed on the wife. The remaining contravention applications by the husband were dismissed due to a lack of particulars and evidence. The wife's three applications alleging contraventions by the husband were also dismissed.

The court ordered that the husband pay the wife's costs on an indemnity basis for three applications made by her seeking orders for a Registrar to sign documents in place of the husband. Furthermore, the court ordered that $30,000 from the husband's share of the proceeds of sale of one of the parties' properties be held in a controlled money account as security for the wife's costs relating to the enforcement of the 21 December 2012 orders. The husband's application to stay property sales was withdrawn and dismissed.