Chanel and Peters

In the matter of *Chanel and Peters*, Bell J of the Family Court of Australia considered a dispute concerning the paternity and living arrangements of a child, B Chanel, born in 1999. The proceedings involved declarations of paternity, parental responsibility, and specific orders regarding the child's residence and contact with both parents.

The court was required to determine, among other things, whether Mr Peters was the biological father of the child, who should have sole parental responsibility for major long-term issues, and where the child should live. Further issues included the nature and extent of the mother's contact with the child, the role of a contact centre, and the sharing of costs associated with that centre. The court also addressed the child's attendance at a specific program and the provision of school and medical reports.

Bell J declared, pursuant to s 69VA of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), that Mr Peters was the father of the child. The court ordered that Mr Peters have sole parental responsibility for the child in relation to all major long-term issues and that the child live with him. The mother was granted limited contact, to occur once a month at a designated contact centre for a maximum of two hours, subject to strict notification requirements by both parties to the centre. The court also made orders for the child to attend a specific program and for the father to provide school and medical reports to the mother, initially via an Independent Children's Lawyer and subsequently directly. The Independent Children's Lawyer was discharged on a specified date.