Addison and Gilligan and Ors

In *Addison and Gilligan and Ors*, heard before Cleary J, the dispute concerned parenting orders for two children, B and C. The primary issue before the court was the future parenting arrangements for these children, given the existing orders and the involvement of various parties, including the mother, maternal grandmother, other maternal relatives, and Mr Gilligan, the former de facto step maternal grandfather.

The court was required to determine the extent of parental responsibility each party should have for the children, where the children should live, and the nature and extent of their time and communication with the various parties. A key legal issue was whether to discharge existing parenting orders and establish new arrangements that would grant exclusive parental responsibility to Ms Williams and Mr Williams.

Cleary J reasoned that the existing parenting orders were no longer appropriate and ordered their discharge. The court determined that Ms Williams and Mr Williams should have sole parental responsibility for both children until they reached 18 years of age, and that the children should live with them. The court further ordered that the children would spend time and communicate with their mother, maternal grandmother, and other maternal relatives as arranged by Ms Williams and Mr Williams. Crucially, the court ordered that the children were not to spend time or communicate with Mr Gilligan without the express written approval of Ms Williams or Mr Williams.