Maraichers & Tesson

This matter concerned parenting orders and surname changes for two children, A and C, born in 1999 and 2002 respectively. The proceedings were before Brown J in the Family Court of Australia. The dispute was resolved by consent orders made between the mother, Maraichers, and the father, Tesson.

The court was required to determine the terms of parenting orders, including arrangements for equal shared parental responsibility, the children's living arrangements, and the father's time with the children. Additionally, the court was asked to make orders regarding the children's surname and the process for amending their birth registrations. The orders also addressed various conditions and restrictions on the parents' conduct, including drug and alcohol use, communication with the children about proceedings, and the children's privacy.

The court made detailed parenting orders by consent, discharging previous orders and establishing equal shared parental responsibility with the children to live with the mother. The father's time with the children was prescribed with specific provisions for weekdays, weekends, school holidays, and public holidays, with some arrangements subject to the father's compliance with drug testing and other conditions. The court also made orders regarding the children's surname, requiring them to be known as A Maraichers-Tesson and C Maraichers-Tesson, and mandating the amendment of their birth registrations accordingly. The court further ordered that the father and mother be restrained from denigrating each other, discussing court proceedings with the children, or discussing future parenting arrangements with them.