Edmunds and Edmunds

In Edmunds and Edmunds, the Family Court of Australia considered parenting orders concerning two children, X and Y. The dispute involved the arrangements for the children's living situation, parental responsibility, and time spent with each parent.

The court was required to determine the best interests of the children, specifically addressing issues of primary residence, the allocation of decision-making responsibility for significant aspects of the children's lives, and the practical arrangements for the children's time with each parent. The court also had to consider the need for any specific conditions or undertakings to be imposed on the parents to ensure the children's welfare and safety.

The court ordered that the children live with the mother and that she have sole responsibility for decisions regarding their education and health. The parents were to share equal parental responsibility in all other respects. Specific, detailed arrangements were set out for the children's time with the father, including a complex three-week cycle and provisions for holidays and special occasions. The father was also ordered to undergo a drug and alcohol counselling course. Crucially, both parents were restrained by injunction from denigrating the other parent in the presence of the children and from discussing the proceedings with them. All previous parenting orders were discharged.