McEllis and McEllis

In the matter of McEllis and McEllis, Bell J of the Family Court of Australia made orders concerning the time the Father would spend with the child, B, born in 2008. The dispute centred on the arrangements for the Father's contact with the child, following a trial held between 11 and 14 March 2013.

The court was required to determine the appropriate parenting orders to be made, balancing the child's best interests with the Father's desire for contact. This involved establishing a phased approach to the Father's time with the child, commencing with supervised contact and progressing to unsupervised contact, as well as outlining provisions for telephone communication. The court also addressed the need for an updated Family Report and the process for its preparation and dissemination.

Bell J ordered a staged increase in the Father's time with the child over a period of six months. Initially, for one month, the Father was to have supervised contact for four hours each weekend, with the paternal grandmother acting as supervisor if willing. This was to be followed by a further month of contact for four hours each weekend in the presence of the paternal grandmother. Subsequently, for four months, the Father was to have unsupervised contact for four hours each weekend. In addition to these arrangements, the Father was granted telephone communication with the child on Wednesday evenings, with provisions for agreement between the parties or a default time. The court also ordered the preparation of an updated Family Report by Mr C, with the parties to share the costs equally, and directed that the Father's legal representatives provide Mr C with relevant documentation. The proceedings were adjourned for mention on 7 February 2014, and the orders included standard provisions regarding obligations, consequences of contravention, and assistance for compliance pursuant to sections 62B and 65DA(2) of the relevant legislation.