Adkins and Cape

This matter concerned parenting orders made by Judge Middleton in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. The dispute involved the parents of a child, X, born in 2014, regarding arrangements for parental responsibility and time spent with the child.

The court was required to determine the specific orders concerning the allocation of parental responsibility for major long-term issues, the living arrangements for the child, and the schedule for the child to spend time with each parent. Additionally, the court needed to establish protocols for communication between the parents regarding the child, including the exchange of information about the child's health and education, and to address issues of parental conduct and dispute resolution.

Judge Middleton made orders granting the mother sole parental responsibility for major long-term decisions, requiring her to consult with the father in writing before making such decisions and to consider his timely response based on the child's best interests. The child was ordered to live with the mother, with specific, detailed arrangements for the child to spend time with the father, including provisions for weekends, school holidays, and communication via FaceTime. The orders also included injunctions restraining the parents from denigrating each other or discussing proceedings in the child's presence, and mandated a structured dispute resolution process involving a mediator for future disagreements.