El Najjar and El Najjar

In the matter of El Najjar and El Najjar, Justice Fowler of the Family Court of Australia considered orders concerning the living arrangements and parental responsibility for three children of the relationship. The dispute involved the father and mother, with the court receiving evidence including a letter from the mother and a Children and Parents Issues Assessment report.

The court was required to determine the primary residence of the children, the allocation of parental responsibility, and the terms of contact between the mother and the children. Additionally, the court considered orders relating to the parties' conduct in the presence of the children, information sharing regarding medical and educational matters, and the appointment of a Case Guardian for the mother.

Justice Fowler ordered that the children live with the father and that the father have sole parental responsibility. The court also made orders prohibiting the parties from denigrating each other or allowing third parties to do so in the presence of the children, and stipulated requirements for informing each other about medical appointments and sharing school reports. No order for contact with the mother was made at that time, but she was granted liberty to apply. The court also directed that an application be made for the appointment of a Case Guardian for the mother and noted that particulars of the obligations and consequences of contravening the orders were set out in an attached Fact Sheet.