EARNHART & EARNHART

In the matter of *EARNHART & EARNHART*, heard before Judge Burchardt, the dispute concerned parenting arrangements for a child approaching 14 years of age. The father sought sole parental responsibility, primarily due to concerns about the mother's mental health, which had included at least one psychiatric episode. The father expressed apprehension regarding the likelihood of future episodes and the potential impact on the child.

The central legal issues before the court were whether the mother was likely to experience future psychiatric episodes, and how the child's stated wishes, which appeared to be inconsistent depending on the recipient, should be weighed. The court was also required to consider the father's expressed fears that the mother's concerns might be influenced by his own dislike of her, and to determine the appropriate parenting orders in light of the evidence presented, including the opinion of a family report writer.

Judge Burchardt accepted that the mother was complying with her medication regime. However, the court ultimately accepted the opinion of the family report writer regarding the mother's mental health and its potential impact. Consequently, the court made orders for supervised time between the mother and the child. The father was granted sole parental responsibility for the child, with a requirement to notify the mother in writing of any significant exercise of parental responsibility and provide an opportunity for her to comment. The mother was ordered to spend time with the child at a supervised contact centre for six visits. The matter was adjourned for further mention.