GROVES & ARTHURTON & GROVES

In the Family Court of Australia, Bell J considered parenting arrangements for two children, S and M. The dispute involved the mother (presumably the applicant, though not explicitly stated as such), the respondent father, and an intervener maternal grandmother. The court was tasked with determining the primary residence of the children and the allocation of parental responsibility.

The court was required to discharge previous parenting orders and establish new arrangements. Specifically, the court had to decide with whom the children would live, who would have parental responsibility for their care, welfare, and development, and the extent of time the children would spend with the maternal grandmother. Furthermore, the court needed to address communication arrangements between the children and the respondent father and the intervener maternal grandmother when the children were not in their respective care.

Bell J ordered that the children live with the respondent father and that he share joint parental responsibility with the intervener maternal grandmother. The children were to spend time with the maternal grandmother from Friday after school until Monday morning, and half of all school holidays, commencing with the first half of the Christmas 2012 holidays. The court also ordered that the children communicate with both the respondent father and the intervener maternal grandmother at reasonable times when not in their care. The proceedings were adjourned for a five-day trial commencing on 4 March 2013, with specific provisions for liberty to re-list the matter concerning the children's school attendance if no agreement was reached.