Lucas and Wragge and Ors

This matter concerned parenting orders for a child born in 2011, involving Mr Lucas (the father) and Ms C Wragge (the maternal grandmother). The dispute revolved around the arrangements for the child's living situation, parental responsibility, and time spent with each party, including the mother. The decision was made by Benjamin J.

The court was required to determine the appropriate orders for parental responsibility, the child's living arrangements, and the time the child would spend with each of the father, mother, and maternal grandparents. Key issues included the extent of shared parental responsibility, the primary residence of the child, and the conditions under which the mother would spend time with the child, specifically whether such time should be supervised. The court also considered provisions for communication, travel, and notification of significant events.

Benjamin J dismissed all previous parenting orders and established equal shared parental responsibility between the father and the maternal grandmother. The child was ordered to live with the maternal grandmother and maternal grandfather, with specific provisions for time spent with the father, varying depending on his ordinary residence. Crucially, the mother's time with the child was to be supervised by specified individuals or by agreement between the father and maternal grandmother, a condition that would only be varied by a subsequent court order. The court also detailed procedures for decision-making regarding the child's long-term welfare, requiring consultation with the mother and outlining a process for final decision-making if agreement could not be reached.