Buzalek and Buzalek

In the matter of Buzalek and Buzalek, Stevenson J made orders concerning the parental responsibility and time spent with the children, M and N. The dispute concerned the arrangements for the children following the separation of their parents.

The court was required to determine the most appropriate orders for the children's living arrangements, the division of parental responsibility, and the specific times each parent would spend with the children. The court also considered provisions for communication between the parents, the exchange of information regarding the children's well-being and education, and the prevention of denigration of one parent by the other.

Stevenson J ordered the discharge of all existing orders and established equal shared parental responsibility for the children. The children were to live with the mother, with specific periods allocated for them to live with the father, including alternate weekends during school term, half of all school holidays, and specific times for Christmas and Father's Day. Further provisions were made for the children to spend time with each parent on their respective birthdays. The court also mandated communication via text messages and a communication book, required prompt notification of serious injury or illness, and ensured each parent could obtain necessary information regarding the children's education and health. Finally, both parties were restrained from denigrating each other in the presence of the children.