Marvell and Marvell

This matter concerned parenting orders made by consent between the parents, Marvell and Marvell, in relation to their child, X, born in 2017. The proceedings were before Judge Young.

The court was required to determine the terms of parenting orders that would govern the child's living arrangements, time spent with each parent, communication between parents and child, and specific provisions for holidays, birthdays, and travel. The orders also addressed parental responsibilities regarding the child's education and healthcare, and included injunctions restraining certain behaviours by the parents.

By consent, the court ordered that the parents have equal shared parental responsibility for the child. The child was to live with the father, and spend time with the mother at all times as agreed, or failing agreement, on specified weekdays. Detailed provisions were made for the child's time with each parent during Christmas, Father's Day, Mother's Day, and the child's birthday, with specific arrangements for travel and communication. The orders also mandated that parents attend family dispute resolution if they were unable to reach agreement on parenting issues.

The court further ordered that each parent was authorised to obtain school and health records for the child and attend school activities. Crucially, injunctions were imposed restraining the parents from using corporal punishment, denigrating the other parent, exposing the child to family violence or sexualised behaviour, using drugs of abuse, or consuming alcohol to excess when the child was in their care. The orders also stipulated that parents must notify each other of address changes within 48 hours and that communication between parents should primarily occur via email or text, limited to child-related issues, unless otherwise agreed or in an emergency. All extant applications were dismissed.