BILLING & BILLING

In the matter of BILLING & BILLING, heard before Judge Scarlett, the dispute concerned parenting orders for a child, X, and also involved an application for urgent spousal maintenance. The court was required to make interim orders regarding the child's living arrangements, parental responsibility, and the appointment of an Independent Children's Lawyer.

The court determined that it was in the child's best interests to have equal shared parental responsibility and to live with each parent on a week-about basis. The court also considered the need for independent representation of the child's interests and the procedural requirements for the respondent to file her response and financial statement.

Applying the principles of the *Family Law Act 1975*, the court ordered the parties to attend a Child Dispute Conference and engage in Family Dispute Resolution. Equal shared parental responsibility was ordered, with the child to live with each parent alternately. An Independent Children's Lawyer was appointed to represent the child's interests, with Legal Aid NSW requested to arrange this representation. The court also noted a payment of $15,000 made by the respondent to the applicant's solicitor's trust account, indicating a potential resolution or partial satisfaction of a financial claim. The matter was adjourned for further mention.