Holford and Osborne

In the matter of Holford and Osborne, heard before Judge Scarlett, the applicant mother sought orders concerning her child, [X] Osborne, born in 1999. The dispute involved the mother's application for sole parental responsibility, a change of the child's surname, and permission to take the child out of Australia. The respondent father was not present or represented, leading to an application for leave to proceed ex parte.

The court was required to determine whether to grant the applicant mother sole parental responsibility for the child, [X] Osborne. Additionally, the court had to consider the application to change the child's surname from Osborne to Holford and whether to grant leave for the child to travel internationally and be issued an Australian passport. The court also needed to address the procedural aspect of proceeding ex parte.

Judge Scarlett granted leave to proceed ex parte, finding it appropriate in the circumstances. The court ordered that the applicant mother have sole parental responsibility for the child, [X] Osborne. The court further ordered that the child's name be changed to [X] Holford and that the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in New South Wales be directed to register this change. The court also permitted the applicant mother to take the child out of Australia and to apply for an Australian passport for the child, enabling international travel.