Milne and Stanmore

In the matter of *Milne and Stanmore*, heard before Judge Phipps, the dispute concerned parenting orders for a child, X, born in 2013. The mother sought sole parental responsibility and orders for the child to live with her, while also seeking no orders for the child to spend time or communicate with the father.

The court was required to determine the best interests of the child, X, in circumstances where the mother sought sole parental responsibility and the father's exclusion from the child's life. This involved assessing the evidence presented by both parties and considering the implications of various parenting arrangements on the child's welfare.

Judge Phipps ordered that the mother have sole parental responsibility for the child X and that the child live with the mother. Crucially, the court made no order for the child to spend time or communicate with the father. The order appointing an Independent Children’s Lawyer was discharged, and all other extant applications were dismissed.