NEVIS & SHEKELL

In the matter of NEVIS & SHEKELL, heard before Judge Scarlett, the dispute concerned parenting arrangements for the child of the relationship, X, born in 2007. The court was tasked with determining the living arrangements for the child and the allocation of parental responsibility, as well as the nature and extent of contact between the child and the Mother.

The central legal issues before the court were: firstly, where the child, X, should live and who should hold parental responsibility for X; and secondly, the terms upon which the Mother should spend time with X, including any necessary supervision or conditions precedent to such contact.

Judge Scarlett ordered that the child, X, live with the Father and that the Father have sole parental responsibility for X. The Mother was ordered to spend time with X fortnightly under the supervision of the Interrelate Children’s Contact Centre until further order. To facilitate this, the Mother was directed to make an appointment within 14 days to complete the necessary intake assessment and building connections course at the Contact Centre. The Father was to attend any required courses forthwith upon the Mother's completion, to enable contact to commence as soon as possible. Both parties were ordered to comply with all reasonable directions, policies, and procedures of the Contact Centre.