Bancroft and Willard (No.2)

In Bancroft and Willard (No.2), the parties, Bancroft (the Father) and Willard (the Mother), brought their dispute concerning the parenting of their three children, X (born 2006), Y (born 2008), and Z (born 2010), before Judge Young. The core of the dispute revolved around the arrangements for the children's living situation, time spent with each parent, and decision-making regarding their upbringing.

The court was required to determine the most appropriate parenting orders for the children, specifically addressing issues of equal shared parental responsibility, the children's primary residence, the allocation of time between the parents during school holidays and other periods, and the mechanisms for communication and decision-making between the parents. The court also had to consider the financial responsibilities associated with the children's travel and ensure the children's well-being and protection from harmful influences.

Judge Young ordered the discharge of all previous parenting orders and established equal shared parental responsibility for the children. The court ordered that the children live with the Father, while detailing specific arrangements for the Mother to spend time with the children during school holidays, including provisions for travel and associated costs. Further orders addressed communication protocols between the parents and with the children, parental involvement in schooling and extracurricular activities, and restrictions on denigration and exposure to harmful substances or behaviours. The court also included injunctions restraining parties from making major long-term decisions without written agreement and from denigrating each other or exposing the children to negative influences.