Bonsor and Sickler (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) by the applicant, Ms. Sickler, against a decision of the Child Support Registrar. The dispute centred on the percentage of care arrangements for the parties' child, with Ms. Sickler seeking to revoke existing determinations regarding the percentage of care.

The primary legal issue before the Tribunal was whether there had been a change to the likely pattern of care of the child that would warrant a revocation of the existing percentage of care determinations. The Tribunal was required to assess the evidence presented to determine if the established care arrangements had altered in a way that justified a reassessment.

The Tribunal found that the evidence did not demonstrate a change to the likely pattern of care. Applying the relevant provisions of the Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988, the Tribunal concluded that the existing percentage of care determinations remained appropriate. Consequently, the Tribunal set aside the decision under review and substituted its own decision, refusing to revoke the existing percentage of care determinations.