Hartford and Ansilda (No. 4)

In the matter of *Hartford and Ansilda (No. 4)*, Brown J of the Family Court of Australia considered competing applications for final parenting orders concerning a child born in December 2006, and the father's application alleging contravention of existing orders by the mother. The proceedings also involved related intervention order applications in the Children's Court and Magistrates' Court of Victoria.

The court was required to determine the future conduct of the parenting proceedings, including the adjournment of the trial, and to address the costs incurred on the day of the hearing. Additionally, the court needed to consider how to ensure relevant information regarding intervention order proceedings concerning the parties and the child was brought to the attention of the courts hearing those matters.

Brown J adjourned the final parenting orders and contravention application for trial on 25 August 2008. The mother was ordered to pay $7,000 towards the father's costs thrown away on that day. The costs of the independent children's lawyer were fixed and reserved. Crucially, the court directed that sealed copies of its orders and reasons be sent to the registrars of the Children's Court and the Magistrates' Court of Victoria, with a request that they be brought to the attention of any court dealing with intervention order applications involving the mother, father, or child. The court also made directions regarding the filing of affidavits and permitted the family report writer to review subsequent documents. The court noted the mother's change of solicitors and her pending application for legal aid.