Craven and Craven (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal by the father, Mr. Craven, against a decision of the Child Support Registrar regarding the percentage of care for the parties' child. The dispute centred on whether there had been a change to the likely pattern of care for the child, which would necessitate a reassessment of the child support assessment.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the Registrar had erred in finding that there had been no change to the likely pattern of care for the child. This required the court to consider the evidence presented regarding the care arrangements for the child and to determine if those arrangements constituted a "change" as contemplated by the relevant provisions of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988*.

The court affirmed the Registrar's decision, finding that the evidence did not demonstrate a change to the likely pattern of care. The legal principle applied was that a change in the pattern of care must be significant and likely to persist to warrant a reassessment of child support. The court was satisfied that the existing care arrangements, as assessed by the Registrar, accurately reflected the ongoing pattern of care for the child.