Adanti and Coli

In the matter of *Adanti and Coli*, heard by Williams J, the dispute concerned parenting arrangements and property division between the applicant mother, Ms Adanti, and the respondent father, Mr Coli. The court granted the mother leave to proceed on an undefended basis.

The court was required to determine a range of issues, including the allocation of parental responsibility, the children's living arrangements, and the extent of the father's time and communication with the children. Additionally, the court had to address the division of property, including the release of funds held in a lawyer's trust account and the entitlement to various assets and superannuation. Injunctions were also sought to restrain certain behaviours and to prevent the removal of the children from Australia.

Williams J made orders granting the wife sole parental responsibility for the children, C and B, and that they live with her. The father was to spend time and communicate with the children as agreed, with any time to take place in Australia unless otherwise agreed. The court issued injunctions restraining both parties from denigrating the other in the children's presence, questioning the children about their wishes or time with the other parent, or discussing court proceedings with them. The father was also restrained from removing the children from the Commonwealth of Australia, and the mother was permitted to obtain their passports and take them from Australia. Regarding property, the court ordered the release of approximately $124,000 from a lawyer's trust account to the mother. Each party was to be solely entitled to property in their possession, with specific provisions for bank accounts and superannuation. The court also ordered that the parties keep each other informed of significant injury or illness to the children and authorised the mother to obtain the children's school reports at the father's expense.