Layne and Headman (No 2)

In the matter of Layne and Headman (No 2), Baumann J of the Family Court of Australia made orders concerning the living arrangements and contact between two children, V and U, and their mother, Ms Headman. The dispute centred on the welfare and best interests of the children, with their fathers, Mr Layne and Mr Reagon, seeking orders for the children to live with them.

The court was required to determine the primary residence of the children, V and U, and the nature and extent of contact they would have with their mother, Ms Headman. Additionally, the court needed to establish the supervision arrangements for this contact, communication protocols between the children and their mother, and provisions for future case management and the filing of affidavits detailing the progression of the ordered arrangements and proposals for the next six months.

Baumann J ordered that V live with her father, Mr Layne, and U live with her father, Mr Reagon. Contact between the children and their mother was to be on a supervised basis, with specific dates and times outlined, and changeovers to occur at a designated public venue. The supervision was to be undertaken by the maternal grandparents or another agreed-upon responsible adult, subject to the approval of the Independent Children’s Lawyer. The court also made orders regarding telephone and video communication, prohibiting the denigration of parties in the presence of the children, and directed the parties to file affidavits detailing the progress of the arrangements and their proposals for future interim orders. The proceedings were adjourned for a case management hearing.