Haggett and Sawden (Child support)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) considered the child support percentages of care in the matter of Haggett and Sawden. The dispute concerned the appropriate allocation of care percentages between the parties for the purposes of calculating child support.

The Tribunal was required to determine whether there had been a change in the pattern of care since the last assessment, and if so, whether that change warranted an alteration to the existing child support percentages. The central legal issue was whether the evidence presented demonstrated a significant and ongoing shift in the day-to-day care of the child that would justify a reassessment.

The Tribunal affirmed the decision under review, finding that the evidence did not establish a material change in the pattern of care. Applying the principles governing child support assessments, the Tribunal concluded that the existing percentages accurately reflected the care arrangements. Consequently, no alteration to the child support percentages was deemed necessary.