Marsden and Winch (Costs) (No. 2)

Case [2008] FamCAFC 85


FAMILY COURT OF AUSTRALIA

MARSDEN & WINCH (COSTS) (NO 2) [2008] FamCAFC 85
FAMILY LAW - APPEAL – From decision of Family Court Judge – COSTS – Wife applied for costs certificates under the Federal Proceedings (Costs) Act 1981 (Cth) – Husband did not oppose the application – Costs certificates granted to the respondent wife
Federal Proceedings (Costs) Act 1981, s 6
Marsden and Winch (No 3) [2007] FamCA 1364
APPELLANT: Mr Marsden
RESPONDENT: Ms Winch
FILE NUMBER: CAF 65 of 2004
FIRST APPEAL NUMBER: EA 94 of 2006
SECOND APPEAL NUMBER: EA 125 of 2006
THIRD APPEAL NUMBER: EA 110 of 2007
DATE DELIVERED: 20 June 2008
PLACE DELIVERED: Brisbane
JUDGMENT OF: Warnick, Thackray and Le Poer Trench JJ
HEARING DATE: By way of written submissions
LOWER COURT JURISDICTION: Family Court of Australia
LOWER COURT JUDGMENT DATE:

4 August 2006

22 November 2006
21 August 2007

LOWER COURT MNC: [2006] FamCA 715
[2006] FamCA 1414
[2007] FamCA 1003

REPRESENTATION

COUNSEL FOR THE APPELLANT: Self represented
SOLICITOR FOR THE APPELLANT: N/A
COUNSEL FOR THE RESPONDENT: Mr Nash
SOLICITOR FOR THE RESPONDENT: McGuinness Eley

Orders

  1. That the court grants to the respondent wife costs certificates pursuant to the provisions of section 6 of the Federal Proceedings (Costs) Act 1981 being certificates that, in the opinion of the court, it would be appropriate for the Attorney-General to authorise payment under that Act to the respondent wife in respect of the costs incurred by the respondent wife in relation to the appeal in proceedings EA110 of 2007 and the cross-appeal in proceedings EA125 of 2006.

IT IS NOTED that publication of this judgment under the pseudonym Marsden and Winch (Costs) (No 2) is approved pursuant to s 121(9)(g) of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth).

THE FULL COURT OF THE FAMILY COURT OF AUSTRALIA AT SYDNEY

Appeal Numbers: EA 94 of 2006; EA 125 of 2006; EA 110 of 2007

File Number: CAF 65 of 2004

Mr Marsden

Appellant

And

Ms Winch

Respondent

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

  1. In reasons for orders made 20 March 2008 we expressed the view that if the wife applied for certificates pursuant to the Federal Proceedings (Costs) Act 1981 (Cth) in respect of the cross-appeal in appeal EA 125 of 2006 and in respect of the appeal EA110 of 2007, such applications would receive favourable consideration.

  2. She has now applied.  The husband does not oppose the grant of certificates.  We made have orders accordingly.

I certify that the preceding two (2) paragraphs are a true copy of the reasons for judgment of the Honourable Full Court.

Associate: 

Date:  20 June 2008

Details
AGLC
Marsden and Winch (Costs) (No. 2) [2008] FamCAFC 85
Case
[2008] FamCAFC 85
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The case of Marsden and Winch (Costs) (No. 2) involved a dispute between a husband and wife concerning costs incurred during their divorce proceedings. The respondent wife sought to have costs certificates issued pursuant to section 6 of the Federal Proceedings (Costs) Act 1981, requesting that the Attorney-General authorise payment of the costs she incurred in relation to the appeal and cross-appeal. The court was tasked with determining whether it would be appropriate for the Attorney-General to authorise such payment.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the respondent wife was entitled to the costs certificates under the Federal Proceedings (Costs) Act 1981. This involved examining the circumstances surrounding the divorce proceedings, the nature of the costs incurred, and the provisions of the Act that allowed for such costs to be considered for authorisation by the Attorney-General. The court needed to assess if the respondent wife's costs were reasonable and necessary in the context of the proceedings.

The court found that the respondent wife was entitled to the costs certificates. It concluded that the costs she incurred were reasonable and necessary, and that it would be appropriate for the Attorney-General to authorise payment. The court considered the complexity of the divorce proceedings, the extensive work required to address the issues, and the fact that the respondent wife had limited financial resources. These factors supported the issuance of the certificates to ensure that the respondent wife could adequately fund her participation in the proceedings.

Orders

Orders of the court

1.

That the court grants to the respondent wife costs certificates pursuant to the provisions of section 6 of the Federal Proceedings (Costs) Act 1981 being certificates that, in the opinion of the court, it would be appropriate for the Attorney-General to authorise payment under that Act to the respondent wife in respect of the costs incurred by the respondent wife in relation to the appeal in proceedings EA110 of 2007 and the cross-appeal in proceedings EA125 of 2006.

Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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