Chesterfield and Brent

In the matter of *Chesterfield and Brent*, Judge McGuire of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia considered orders concerning the children X and Y. The dispute revolved around the arrangements for the children's living arrangements, time spent with each parent, and communication.

The court was required to determine the nature of parental responsibility for X and Y, whether to impose restrictions on changing the children's principal place of residence, and the specific time and communication arrangements between the children and their father.

Judge McGuire ordered the discharge of all extant orders concerning X and Y. The court then made new orders establishing equal shared parental responsibility for the children. Crucially, both parents were restrained from changing the children's principal place of residence from the specified shire in Victoria without the other parent's written consent. The children were ordered to live with the mother, and specific provisions were made for the children to spend time with and communicate with the father, including regular weekend time, half of the summer holidays, and a portion of each term holiday, with flexibility for parental agreement.