Herman and Herman

This matter concerned parenting orders for the child of the marriage, born in April 2000, between the parties identified as Herman and Herman. The court was required to determine the arrangements for the child's residence, parental responsibility, and communication between the parties.

The central legal issues before the court were the nature and extent of parental responsibility, the specific living arrangements for the child, including the division of school terms and holidays, and provisions for communication and information sharing between the parents. The court also considered the discharge of previous parenting orders and the role of an Independent Children's Lawyer.

Guest J discharged all previous parenting orders and ordered that the parties retain equal shared parental responsibility for the child. The court established a week-about living arrangement for the child during school terms, with changeovers to occur at the child's school. Specific arrangements were also made for school holidays, Christmas, and the birthdays of the child and each parent, including provisions for communication via telephone and the exchange of important information regarding the child's welfare and contact details. The court also certified for counsel and dismissed all extant applications.