Paul and Little

In the matter of *Paul and Little*, Bell J of the Family Court of Australia considered an application concerning the living arrangements and future relocation of a child. The dispute centred on the arrangements for the child, K, born in July 2008, and the mother's desire to relocate with K to New Zealand.

The court was required to determine the primary residence of the child, the allocation of parental responsibility for long-term decision-making, and whether to permit the mother's relocation to New Zealand. Additionally, the court needed to establish a schedule for the father's time with K, both before and after any potential relocation.

Bell J ordered that K live with the mother and that both parents share equal responsibility for K's long-term care, welfare, and development. The mother was granted permission to relocate to New Zealand, but this was contingent on a specific date of Friday, 4 March 2011. Prior to this date, the father was to spend time with K on alternate weekends from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening, commencing the weekend after Christmas 2010, and also on Christmas Eve 2010. Following the mother's relocation to New Zealand, the father's time with K was to be arranged by agreement between the parties for block periods not exceeding three days. All previous orders, including a PACE alert, were discharged.