ESPLIN & ESPLIN

This matter concerned parenting orders for three children, X, Y, and Z, and involved a dispute between their mother and father. The proceedings were before Judge Burchardt.

The court was required to determine the living arrangements for the children, the allocation of parental responsibility, and the nature and extent of the father's time with and communication with each child. Further issues included the supervision of the father's time with the children, geographical limitations on that time, and specific conditions relating to the father's conduct and communication with the children. The court also considered whether to discharge previous parenting orders.

In reaching its decision, the court made orders reflecting the children's best interests. The children were ordered to live with the mother, who was granted sole parental responsibility. The father's time with Y and Z was limited to four hours per month, and his time with X was to be determined by X's wishes. All time spent with the father was to be supervised, either by his partner or another agreed supervisor, and was to occur within a 30-minute travel radius of the children's residence. The children were given liberty to choose whether and when to communicate by telephone with the father. The father was directed to seek information and education regarding autism spectrum disorder. Crucially, both parents were restrained from discussing parenting issues and the proceedings with the children, and the father was prohibited from consuming alcohol during and for 24 hours prior to spending time with the children. All previous parenting orders were discharged.