Woodruff and Woodruff

In the matter of *Woodruff and Woodruff*, Benjamin J of the Family Court of Australia considered an application by Mr Woodruff to set aside final property orders made on 21 November 2013. The primary dispute before the court was the validity of these previously made property orders.

The central legal issue before Benjamin J was whether the final property orders of 21 November 2013 should be set aside. This required the court to consider the grounds upon which such orders could be vitiated, likely involving an assessment of whether there was any material non-disclosure, fraud, or other vitiating factor that would justify departing from the finality of the original orders.

Benjamin J dismissed Mr Woodruff's application to set aside the final property orders. The court's reasoning, though not detailed in the provided text, led to the conclusion that the existing orders should stand. The court then made detailed orders regarding the parties' outstanding applications for costs, setting a timetable for the filing and service of written submissions and further affidavit evidence. All remaining applications were stood over for mention, with the husband granted leave to attend by telephone. The court also certified that it was reasonable to engage counsel to attend, pursuant to Rule 19.50 of the *Family Law Rules 2004*.