Batkin and Batkin

In the matter of *Batkin and Batkin*, Kent J made orders by consent between the parties concerning their children. The dispute involved the parenting arrangements for the children B, N, and J, and the terms of these arrangements were set out in Minutes of Consent.

The court was required to determine the specific parenting orders to be made, including provisions for the children's living arrangements, parental responsibility, and time spent with the Father. The court also considered the discharge of previous parenting plans and orders, the role and discharge of the Independent Children's Lawyer, and the communication and notification obligations between the parents.

The court's reasoning was based on the consent of the parties, as evidenced by the Minutes of Consent. Pursuant to Rule 10.17 of the *Family Law Rules 2004*, the court made declarations and notations in terms of the agreed Minutes. The orders addressed the children living with the Mother, the Mother having sole parental responsibility with a requirement to advise the Father of long-term decisions, and specific supervised time and communication arrangements with the Father. The court also included provisions regarding the Father's responsibility for contact centre costs, the Mother's obligations concerning the children's welfare and communication with the Father, and the discharge of the Independent Children's Lawyer upon certain conditions.

By consent, it was ordered that all previous parenting plans and children's orders be discharged. The children were to live with the Mother, who would have sole parental responsibility, subject to advising the Father of long-term decisions. The children were to spend time with and communicate with the Father as agreed, or failing agreement, under specific supervised conditions at a contact centre. The order also stipulated that the Independent Children's Lawyer would be discharged upon the expiry of six months or the Mother's completion of a specified program. The matter was removed from the pending cases list, and the Minutes of Consent were to remain on the court file.