Marion and Marion

This matter concerned orders made by Judge Hartnett regarding the parental responsibility and living arrangements for five children. The dispute centred on how the parents would share responsibility for the children and the specific times each parent would have the children in their care.

The court was required to determine the extent of equal shared parental responsibility for the children and to establish a detailed schedule for the children's living arrangements with each parent. This included specifying the times for regular care, as well as arrangements for significant dates such as birthdays and public holidays, and provisions for communication and the exchange of information regarding the children's well-being and education.

The court's decision, made by consent of the parties, established equal shared parental responsibility for the children. It then set out a detailed schedule for the children to live with each parent on an alternating weekly basis, commencing from specific dates in December 2012. The orders further stipulated specific times for each parent to have the children on Father's Day, Mother's Day, their respective birthdays, and during the Christmas period, with provisions for flexibility and agreement on other occasions. The court also made orders concerning the children's schooling, communication between parents and children, notification of illness or injury, and the exchange of medication. Additionally, orders were made regarding the notification of address changes, the provision of information to schools, parental attendance at school activities, and the prohibition of denigration of one parent in the presence of the children. Finally, the parties were ordered to attend mediation to discuss schooling and other general matters pertaining to the children.