Mahjoub and Bolt (Child support)

The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia considered an appeal concerning child support assessments in *Mahjoub and Bolt*. The dispute involved two separate decisions made by the Child Support Registrar regarding the percentage of care each party had for their child. The applicant sought to have both of these decisions reviewed.

The court was required to determine whether there had been a change to the likely pattern of care for the child, which would justify revoking existing percentage of care determinations and making new ones. Specifically, the court had to assess the evidence presented in relation to the care arrangements and whether those arrangements met the threshold for a change in the registered percentage of care.

In its reasoning, the court applied the principles of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth) and relevant case law concerning changes to the pattern of care. The court found that the evidence supported a change in the pattern of care in relation to the first decision under review, affirming the Registrar's determination. However, for the second decision, the court found that the evidence did not establish a sufficient change to warrant the Registrar's revocation and substitution of the percentage of care.

Consequently, the court affirmed the first decision under review and set aside the second decision under review, substituting it with a new determination that reflected the court's findings on the pattern of care.