Bingham and Montgomery

In the matter of *Bingham and Montgomery*, heard before Judge Scarlett, the dispute concerned parenting orders for a child, X, born in 2004. The specific nature of the dispute leading to the orders is not detailed, but the court's final orders indicate a significant shift in the child's living arrangements and parental responsibility.

The court was required to determine the most appropriate parenting arrangements for the child X, considering the welfare and best interests of the child. This involved assessing the current orders and deciding whether to suspend them, and to whom sole parental responsibility should be granted, as well as where the child should live. The court also considered the need for dispute resolution and independent representation for the child.

Judge Scarlett reasoned that the existing parenting orders should be suspended. The court ordered that the Respondent Mother was to have sole parental responsibility for the child X and that the child was to live with the Respondent Mother. Further, the court directed both parents to attend a Child Dispute Conference with a Family Consultant, as provided by section 11F of the *Family Law Act 1975*. In accordance with section 68L of the *Family Law Act 1975*, the court also ordered that the interests of child X be independently represented by a lawyer, requesting Legal Aid New South Wales to arrange this representation. The parties were directed to provide all relevant documents to the appointed Independent Children’s Lawyer within fourteen days, and the Independent Children’s Lawyer was granted leave to issue up to ten subpoenas without charge. The application was adjourned for mention before Judge Kemp.