Darling and Rudge

In the matter of *Darling and Rudge*, heard by Mullane J, the dispute concerned the living arrangements and parental responsibility for a child born in March 1993. The applicant, Ms Darling, sought orders regarding the child's residence and parental responsibility, while the respondent mother was also a party to the proceedings.

The court was required to determine the primary residence of the child and to whom sole parental responsibility should be allocated. Further, the court had to consider the nature and extent of any contact the child would have with the respondent mother, and whether any outstanding applications by the parties should be dismissed. The court also considered an application by the Independent Lawyer for the child concerning legal costs.

Mullane J ordered that the child was to live with Ms Darling and that she was to have sole parental responsibility. The court further ordered that the child would spend time with the respondent mother only as he agreed, and that such time was to be supervised by an adult nominated by Ms Darling. All other outstanding applications by the parties were dismissed. The application by the Independent Lawyer for the child for orders for the parties to contribute to the costs of legal representation for the child was refused and dismissed.