Adlard and Adlard (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal by the father, Mr Adlard, against a decision of the Child Support Registrar. The dispute centred on the Registrar's refusal to accept the father's estimate of his income for the purposes of a child support administrative assessment. The appeal was heard by Magistrate Letch in the Magistrates Court.

The primary legal issue before the Court was whether the Registrar had erred in refusing to accept the father's estimate of his income. This required the Court to consider the provisions of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth) and the *Child Support Assessment Act 1989* (Cth) concerning the estimation of income by a liable parent.

Magistrate Letch affirmed the Registrar's decision, finding that the father had not provided sufficient evidence to justify his estimated income. The Court applied the principle that a liable parent seeking to have their income estimated must provide credible and verifiable information to support that estimate. In this instance, the father failed to meet this evidentiary burden, leading to the refusal of his estimate.

The Court therefore dismissed the father's appeal and affirmed the decision of the Child Support Registrar.