Pearce and Lear

In the matter of *Pearce and Lear*, Young J of the Family Court of Australia considered orders concerning the living arrangements and parental responsibilities for a child of the marriage born in September 2005. The dispute involved the husband and wife, who were seeking to establish clear arrangements for their son.

The court was required to determine the primary residence of the child, the specific times the child would spend with each parent, and the arrangements for the collection and delivery of the child between residences. Additionally, the court addressed issues of shared parental responsibility, the husband's attendance at a parenting course, restrictions on the husband's alcohol consumption when the child is in his care, and mutual restraints against abusive behaviour between the parties. The court also made orders regarding the removal of the child from the State of Victoria and the use of a motor vehicle.

Young J discharged previous orders and made new orders regarding the child's living arrangements, stipulating that the child would live with the husband on specified days and with the wife at all other times. The court also ordered that the wife collect the child on Saturdays, with other changeovers occurring at the wife's residence. Further orders included shared parental responsibility, the husband's enrolment in a parenting course, and a prohibition on the husband consuming alcohol for a period before and during the child's time with him. Mutual restraining orders were imposed to prevent abuse, and a geographical restriction was placed on removing the child from Victoria. The court also made orders concerning a motor vehicle and adjourned other applications for future hearing.