By and -

Key decisions

  • Eden & Eden [2022] FedCFamC1A 178
  • Charisteas & Charisteas [2022] FedCFamC1A 160
  • Paviello & Paviello [2022] FedCFamC1F 592
  • Samad & Haider [2022] FedCFamC2F1256

PROPERTY

De facto thresholds – judge’s denial of leave to proceed was ‘repugnant to’ prior consent order granting leave under s 44(6)

In Eden & Eden [2022] FedCFamC1A 178 (27 October 2022) Austin J, sitting in the appellate jurisdiction of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, considered a decision of Judge Morley, where a de facto wife’s initiating application for property orders was dismissed for want of jurisdiction.

There was uncertainty about the final date of separation, but in April 2018 a judge granted leave to proceed pursuant to s 44(6) of the Act, based on the de facto husband’s admission that jurisdiction existed (at [10]-[12]).

Despite the grant of leave, Judge Morley found that if the relationship broke down prior to 1 March 2009, there was no jurisdiction to make any order other than dismissing the proceedings for lack of jurisdiction (at [17]).

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