Heaney and Heaney (Child support)

The case of *Heaney and Heaney* concerned a dispute over the percentage of care for a child, which directly impacts child support assessments. The applicant sought to have a previous decision reviewed, arguing that there had been a change to the likely pattern of care. The matter came before the court for determination.

The central legal issue before the court was whether the applicant had demonstrated a sufficient change in the likely pattern of care to warrant setting aside the existing child support assessment. This required the court to consider the evidence presented regarding the actual care arrangements and to assess whether these arrangements constituted a material alteration from the pattern upon which the previous assessment was based.

The court considered the evidence and applied the principles governing changes to child support assessments, particularly in relation to the percentage of care. The court found that the applicant had successfully demonstrated a change to the likely pattern of care. Consequently, the court set aside the previous decision and substituted its own determination regarding the percentage of care.