Parthav and Parthav (Child support)

This matter concerned an appeal to the Child Support Registrar (the Registrar) regarding a decision made by the Child Support Agency (the Agency) concerning the percentage of care for a child. The parties involved were the applicant, referred to as Parthav, and the respondent, also referred to as Parthav, in relation to child support obligations. The core of the dispute revolved around the determination of the likely pattern of care for the child.

The primary legal issue before the Registrar was to determine the percentage of care for the child, which directly impacts the assessment of child support payable. This required the Registrar to consider the evidence presented by both parties regarding the actual care arrangements and to assess what constituted the "likely pattern of care" for the child moving forward.

In reaching its decision, the Registrar applied the principles of the *Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988* (Cth) and relevant case law concerning the assessment of care percentages. The Registrar considered the evidence of both parties, including the frequency and duration of overnight stays and the practical realities of the child's living arrangements. The Registrar's role was to make an independent assessment based on the evidence to determine the most accurate reflection of the child's likely pattern of care. The decision under review was varied based on this assessment.