CHADDOCK & BOMER

The Family Court of Australia, exercising the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory, considered an application concerning the proposed change of surname for two children, X Bomer and Y Bomer. The dispute involved the parents' differing wishes regarding the children's surnames.

The central legal issue before the Court was whether it should approve the change of the children's surname from Bomer to Chaddock, as requested by one parent. This required the Court to consider the best interests of the children in determining whether to grant the application for a change of name.

In reaching its decision, the Court applied the paramount principle that the welfare and best interests of the children are the primary consideration in all matters concerning them. The Court was satisfied that the proposed change of surname to Chaddock was in the best interests of X Bomer and Y Bomer. Consequently, the Court approved the change of name for both children. The Registrar-General of the Australian Capital Territory was directed to give effect to this approval pursuant to section 19 of the *Births, Deaths and Marriages Act 1997* (ACT).