Fletcher and Littlemore

In the matter of Fletcher and Littlemore, Baumann J made orders concerning a child, X, born in 2009. The dispute involved the living arrangements for the child and the allocation of parental responsibility for long-term decisions.

The court was required to determine where the child would live, who would have parental responsibility for long-term decisions, and the extent to which the parents would consult each other on such matters. Additionally, the court considered arrangements for the child's time and communication with the father, the exchange of contact details and residential information, and the father's access to the child's educational records. The court also addressed the mother's ability to obtain a passport for the child and to travel overseas with the child.

Baumann J ordered that the child live with the mother and that the mother have sole parental responsibility for long-term decisions. However, the mother was required to consult the father in writing regarding these decisions, providing details of the proposed decision and reasons, and considering any feedback from the father within seven days. The mother was also to inform the father in writing of her final decision within seven days. The child was to spend time and communicate with the father as agreed in writing by the parents. The mother was granted liberty to obtain a passport for the child and to remove the child from Australia for holidays without the father's consent. The Independent Children's Lawyer was discharged.