Gathercole and Loveridge (Child support)

The matter of *Gathercole and Loveridge (Child Support)* concerned an appeal to the Child Support Appeals Tribunal regarding the percentage of care arrangements for two children. The primary dispute revolved around whether there had been a change to the likely pattern of care, leading to the revocation of existing percentage of care determinations and the making of new ones. The Tribunal was required to consider the compliance with court orders and the reasonableness of actions taken by each parent in response to changes in their respective care responsibilities.

The central legal issues before the Tribunal were whether the Registrar had erred in revoking the existing percentage of care determinations and making new ones, and whether the Registrar had correctly assessed the reasonableness of the actions taken by each parent in relation to the changes in the pattern of care. The Tribunal also had to consider the application of an interim period for 14 weeks and whether the decision under review was otherwise correct.

The Tribunal affirmed the decision under review, finding that the Registrar had not erred in revoking the existing determinations and making new ones. The reasoning focused on the evidence presented regarding the actual and likely future patterns of care, and the assessment of whether each parent had taken reasonable action in response to the shifts in their care responsibilities. The Tribunal applied the principles of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* concerning changes to the pattern of care and the assessment of parental actions.