Luse and Newcomen (Child support)

The case of *Luse and Newcomen* concerned a dispute regarding the percentage of care arrangements for a child. The applicant sought to have the existing percentage of care determinations revoked and new determinations made. The matter came before the court for review of a decision made by the Child Support Registrar.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether there had been a change to the likely pattern of care for the child. This required the court to assess the evidence presented by the parties regarding the actual care arrangements and to determine if these arrangements constituted a significant and ongoing change from the previously determined pattern of care.

The court considered the evidence of the parties and applied the principles of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* concerning changes to care arrangements. The court found that there had been a material change to the likely pattern of care and that the existing determinations were no longer reflective of the reality of the child's living arrangements. Consequently, the court set aside the Registrar's decision and substituted it with new percentage of care determinations.