Farrell and Farley

Stevenson J made orders by consent between the applicant father and the respondent mother, with exceptions regarding specific orders, following a hearing attended by the father in person, the mother's legal representative, and the Independent Children’s Lawyer. The dispute concerned the living arrangements and time spent between the children and their parents, as well as various aspects of parental responsibility and communication.

The court was required to determine the primary residence of the children, the allocation of parental responsibility, and the specific arrangements for the children to spend time with the father. Further issues included the practicalities of travel for these arrangements, communication protocols between parents and with the children, and provisions regarding the children's surname, exposure to smoking, and parental conduct in the children's presence. The court also addressed the notification of changes in personal details, medical issues, and parental alcohol consumption.

The court ordered that the children live with the mother and that both parents share equal parental responsibility. Specific time arrangements were detailed for the father, including periods during school holidays, with provisions for travel costs and methods. The orders also stipulated communication methods, including telephone contact and email for written correspondence, and prohibited excessive alcohol consumption and denigration of the other parent. Notably, the court ordered that the children be known by no surname other than 'Farrell' and restrained the mother from allowing the children to refer to any third person as "dad" or a similar term.