BLESSINGTON & BLUNT

In the matter of BLESSINGTON & BLUNT, Judge Roberts of the Family Court of Australia considered applications by the father, Mr Blessington, and the mother, Ms Blunt, concerning parenting orders for their child, X, and child support. The father sought orders for spending time with the child, including specific handover arrangements and the provision of a mobile telephone, and also sought orders relating to the child's private school education. The mother also sought orders regarding child support.

The court was required to determine the best interests of the child in relation to the proposed parenting arrangements, specifically addressing the father's application for a neutral handover location and the provision of a mobile telephone for the child. Additionally, the court had to consider the applications for child support, including the payment of private school fees, and whether child support should be provided otherwise than in periodic amounts.

Judge Roberts made orders for equal shared parental responsibility, with the child to live with the mother. The father was granted specific periods of time with the child, with detailed provisions for weekends, school holidays, and special occasions, including Father's Day and Mother's Day. The court ordered that the child be collected from and returned to the mother's home for these periods, unless otherwise agreed. Both parents were granted liberty to attend school functions and receive school information, and were required to keep each other informed of medical emergencies and contact details. Crucially, both parents were restrained from denigrating the other parent to or in the presence of the child. The applications for child support were dismissed.