Merry and Brown

In a proceeding before Benjamin J, the mother, Ms Merry, sought orders concerning her child, B, against the father, Mr Brown. The dispute centred on the parenting arrangements for the child, with the mother ultimately seeking sole parental responsibility and the child to live with her.

The court was required to determine the appropriate parenting orders for the child, considering the best interests of the child. This involved assessing whether to discharge previous parenting orders and whether to grant the mother sole parental responsibility, with the child living with her and the father having restricted or no contact.

Benjamin J ordered the discharge of all previous parenting orders and granted the mother sole parental responsibility for the child, with the child to live with her. The father was prohibited from spending time or communicating with the child unless agreed in writing by the mother or ordered by a court. The court also provided for the orders to become final unless the father applied to have them remain interim by a specified date, and discharged the Independent Children’s Lawyer.