PICAR & JACK

In the matter of PICAR & JACK, Gill J of the Family Court of Australia considered competing proposals concerning children. The dispute centred on the arrangements for the children, with both parties filing applications outlining their respective proposals.

The primary legal issue before the Court was to determine the best interests of the children, specifically in relation to the parenting proposals put forward by each party. This required the Court to consider matters relevant under section 60CC of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth).

To facilitate the determination of these issues, Gill J ordered that the parties appoint and instruct a single, appropriately qualified expert within 21 days to prepare a report addressing the matters relevant under section 60CC of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth). The case was granted priority for final hearing within the first six months of 2020. The matter was otherwise transferred to the Registrar's list pending further interim application or the parties seeking to relist the matter for further directions, with neither party pressing their current interim applications.