Woodhurst and Rubbens

In the matter of *Woodhurst and Rubbens*, Austin J of the Supreme Court of New South Wales considered an application for interim spousal maintenance and property settlement. The dispute arose in the context of family law proceedings between the husband and wife.

The court was required to determine the appropriate interim orders for spousal maintenance and the distribution of funds held by the wife's solicitors on trust for the parties. This included whether to grant spousal maintenance and how to allocate the funds pending a final resolution of the property settlement.

Austin J ordered the husband to pay the wife spousal maintenance of $500 per week, with the first payment due within seven days. Furthermore, the court directed that the parties, pending further order or agreement, were to authorise the wife's solicitors to release $100,000 to the wife and $100,000 to the husband from the trust funds. The parties were also restrained from withdrawing further funds from the trust account, subject to compliance with the order for interim property settlement and spousal maintenance. All other outstanding applications for interim orders were dismissed.