Hudson and Hudson

In the matter of *Hudson and Hudson*, Young J of the Family Court of Australia was required to determine applications concerning the parental responsibility for, and living arrangements of, the three children of the marriage. The husband had filed an application in November 2004, with subsequent amended applications, and the wife had filed responses. The court also considered an application by the wife and a further application by the Independent Children’s Lawyer regarding costs.

The central legal issues before the court were the determination of parental responsibility for the children, where the children should live, and the extent of contact between the husband and the children. The court was also tasked with deciding whether to dismiss the husband's applications and the proceedings, and to discharge the appointment of the Independent Children’s Lawyer.

Young J ordered that the interim orders of 9 May 2007 be discharged. The court granted the wife sole parental responsibility for the care and upbringing of the children and ordered that the children live with the wife. The question of time to be spent with or communication between the husband and the children was reserved, subject to the children's ongoing wishes and wellbeing. The husband's application and all amended applications, along with the wife's responses, were dismissed, and the proceedings were removed from the list of cases awaiting hearing. The appointment of the Independent Children’s Lawyer was also discharged. The court further ordered that the applications for costs made by the wife and the Independent Children’s Lawyer be dismissed.