Blakeslee and Granville

This matter concerned orders sought by the parties, Blakeslee and Granville, in relation to their children and property settlement. The dispute was heard by Faulks DCJ.

The court was required to determine issues concerning the parenting arrangements for the parties' three children, including the allocation of parental responsibility and the time the children would spend with each parent. Additionally, the court needed to make orders regarding the division of property between the parties, including a specific property and a sum of money, and to address the division of superannuation interests.

In relation to parenting, the court ordered equal shared parental responsibility for the children, with the mother having sole responsibility for medical and educational decisions. The children were ordered to live with the father for specific periods each week, and otherwise with the mother, with detailed provisions for school holidays. The court considered the children's expressed views, their relationships with each parent and grandparents, and the past involvement of each parent. The court noted the mother's historical primary financial care for the children and formed an impression that the father was not overwhelmingly enthusiastic about pursuing remunerated employment.

Regarding property, the wife was ordered to pay the husband $300,000 within 60 days, and contemporaneously, the husband was to transfer his interest in a property at E Street, Suburb F, ACT, to the wife. The wife was to secure the discharge or release from the mortgage on that property. The court also made orders for the division of superannuation, allocating a base amount from the mother's PSSap Superannuation Fund to the father, and further ordered that a sum of $15,800, contributed equally by each party, be placed in trust for the children.