Morehouse and Morehouse (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal by the father, Mr Morehouse, against a decision of the Child Support Registrar concerning the percentage of care for the parties' child. The parents were living under the same roof at the time of the Registrar's decision, which had revoked existing percentage of care determinations and made new ones.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether the Registrar had erred in revoking the existing percentage of care determinations and making new ones, specifically whether there had been a change to the likely pattern of care.

The court found that the Registrar had not been satisfied that there had been a change to the likely pattern of care. The evidence presented did not demonstrate a significant alteration in the established care arrangements. Consequently, the court determined that the Registrar's decision to revoke the existing determinations and make new ones was not supported by the evidence and was therefore erroneous.

The court set aside the decision of the Child Support Registrar and substituted it with a new determination that the existing percentage of care arrangements were to remain in place.