KIMBERLEY & KIMBERLEY

In *Kimberley & Kimberley*, heard by Watts J, the court considered applications concerning the children of the marriage and the parties' property. The dispute involved issues of parental responsibility, the children's living arrangements and time spent with each parent, and the exclusive occupation of the family home.

The primary legal issues before the court were how the children should spend time with their parents, given erratic visitation and poor communication, and whether allegations of violence raised by one party could be determined at that stage. Additionally, the court had to determine the exclusive occupation of the matrimonial home, considering the father's primary ownership and mortgage payments, and the mother's alternative accommodation with her parents who traditionally cared for the children during work hours.

Watts J ordered that the parties share equal parental responsibility for the children, who were to live with the mother. The father was granted specific, limited time with the children on Sundays and Thursdays. To improve communication, the mother was ordered to purchase a communication book for significant information exchange at changeovers, and she was also directed to attend a post-separation parenting course. The father was granted sole and exclusive use of the matrimonial home, and the mother's applications for its sale and for spousal maintenance were dismissed. Further orders addressed financial matters, including the restraint on drawing on lines of credit without consent and the disposition of certain chattels.