Downs and Seabridge

In the matter of Downs and Seabridge, heard by Judge Altobelli, the dispute concerned parenting orders for two children, X and Y. The court was required to determine the living arrangements and time spent between the children and their parents, as well as address issues relating to the child Y's surname.

The court's reasoning led to the discharge of all previous parenting orders. For child X, no new orders were made. For child Y, the court ordered that Y live with the Mother and that the parents share equal parental responsibility. The judgment then detailed a comprehensive schedule for Y to spend time with the Father, commencing from the date of the orders and extending through various stages until Y commenced school, and thereafter during school terms and holidays.

Further orders stipulated communication arrangements between Y and the Father, information sharing obligations between the parents regarding the child's welfare and personal details, and mutual authorisation for each parent to liaise with the child's educational and healthcare providers. The court also imposed restraints on both parents regarding the consumption of illicit substances and derogatory remarks about the other parent in the child's presence. Crucially, the Mother was restrained from relocating her residence outside a specified area without the Father's consent. The court also ordered that the child Y's surname be changed to "Downs-Seabridge" and that this be the only surname used for the child. Financial assistance was ordered from the Father to the Mother to facilitate travel for Y's time with the Father.