Kareford and Kareford (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal by the father, Kareford, against a decision of the Child Support Registrar regarding the percentage of care for the parties' child. The dispute centred on whether there had been a change to the likely pattern of care for the child, which would necessitate a variation of the existing child support assessment.

The court was required to determine whether the Registrar erred in finding that there had not been a sufficient change to the likely pattern of care to warrant a variation of the child support assessment. Specifically, the court had to consider the evidence presented regarding the actual care arrangements and whether these reflected a new, stable pattern that differed from the one upon which the original assessment was based.

Presiding Member Jensen and Member MM found that the Registrar's decision was not affected by error. They applied the principles governing variations to child support assessments, which require a significant and ongoing change in the pattern of care. The court considered the evidence of the father's increased care and concluded that while there had been some fluctuation, it did not establish a new, stable pattern of care that met the threshold for a variation under the relevant legislation. The appeal was therefore dismissed.