Caffrey and Caffrey

In *Caffrey and Caffrey*, heard by Judge Betts, the court considered parenting orders concerning a child, X, born in 2008. The dispute involved the arrangements for X's living situation, parental responsibility, and communication with the Father.

The central legal issues before the court were how to best determine the child's best interests in relation to parental responsibility for major long-term issues, where the child should live, and the nature and extent of communication and contact between the child and the Father. The court also had to consider the need for protective orders to ensure the child's welfare.

Judge Betts applied the principles of the *Family Law Act 1975*, particularly section 68B(1), to make orders that prioritised the child's best interests. The court determined that the Mother should have sole parental responsibility for major long-term issues and that X should live with the Mother. Significant restrictions were placed on the Father's communication with X, allowing only supervised contact at a designated centre, with the Father bearing the costs. The Father was also restrained from attending X's school or extra-curricular activities without the Mother's written consent, and both parents were prohibited from denigrating each other in X's presence.

The court discharged all previous parenting orders and made new orders reflecting these determinations, including specific provisions for supervised contact and communication, and protective measures against denigration.