Zeng and Lam

This matter concerned parenting and property disputes between the wife and the husband, heard by Watts J. The court was required to make orders regarding the primary care and time arrangements for the parties' child, X, born in 1999. Additionally, the court was tasked with determining the division of the parties' property, including two significant real estate holdings and various other assets and debts.

The legal issues before the court included determining the best interests of the child, X, in relation to parental responsibility, living arrangements, and time spent with each parent. The court also had to consider the division of property pursuant to section 79 of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), which involved assessing the contributions of each party to the marriage and their future needs, as well as addressing any existing family violence within the relationship which influenced the evidence presented.

Watts J made detailed parenting orders, granting the wife sole parental responsibility for the child, X, with specific limitations regarding name changes and living arrangements that would impede time with the husband. The child was ordered to live with the wife, and a schedule for alternate weekend time with the husband was established. The orders also included provisions for communication, medical information sharing, school involvement, and prohibitions against discussing proceedings or denigrating the other parent in the child's presence. In relation to property, the court ordered a division of assets, including the Suburb B and Suburb G properties, a Japanese motor vehicle, a hatchback vehicle, and superannuation interests. The orders provided a primary mechanism for the wife to pay the husband a sum of money and discharge his mortgage responsibilities on the Suburb B property, with alternative arrangements if this did not occur within specified timelines, including the potential sale of the Suburb B property. Each party was to receive their respective superannuation interests and other personal property, with provisions for the division of household furniture and effects. The court also made orders regarding costs payable to Legal Aid NSW by each party, secured by charging orders on the properties they received.