FORD & FORD

The case of *Ford & Ford* concerned parenting orders for three children, B, C, and D. The dispute revolved around the living arrangements and parental responsibilities for the children. Hogan J presided over the matter.

The court was required to determine the primary caregiver for the children, the allocation of parental responsibility for major long-term issues, and the specific arrangements for the children's time with each parent, including communication and holiday schedules. The court also considered the suitability of each parent to have the children live with them, taking into account past incidents of aggression and domestic violence involving the mother.

Hogan J applied the paramountcy principle of the child's welfare in making the final orders. The court found that while the father had past incidents of aggression, these occurred prior to 2012 and did not involve the children, and expert evidence suggested a change in his behaviour. Conversely, the court noted the mother's involvement in domestically violent relationships since her separation from the father, including a serious incident where a former partner threatened her and the children with a gun, and her failure to inform the father of these threats. Based on this evidence, the court ordered that the children live with the father and that he have sole parental responsibility for major long-term issues, with specific provisions for the mother to be consulted on these decisions.

The final orders discharged all previous parenting orders. The children were ordered to live with the father, who was granted sole parental responsibility for major long-term issues such as education, religious and cultural upbringing, and health. The father was required to consult with the mother in writing on these matters, providing her with 14 days to respond before making a final decision. Detailed arrangements were set out for the children's time with the mother, including specific weekend and holiday schedules, as well as communication protocols via telephone and Skype. The court also made orders regarding the exchange of information between parents, prohibitions on denigration, and the dismissal of outstanding applications.