Picton and Crowley

In the matter of *Picton and Crowley*, Rees J of the Family Court of Australia determined a dispute concerning the living arrangements and contact arrangements for a child born in 2009. The proceedings involved an application by the mother, seeking orders for the child to live with her, for her to have sole parental responsibility, and for the father to have no contact with the child.

The primary legal issues before the Court were whether the child should live with the mother, whether the mother should have sole parental responsibility, and the extent, if any, of contact the father should have with the child. The Court was also required to consider the appropriateness of restraining orders against the father and the recording of his name on the child's birth certificate.

Rees J ordered that the child live with the mother and that the mother have sole parental responsibility. The Court further ordered that the father have no contact with the child and imposed restraining orders preventing the father from approaching or contacting the child or the mother, and from attending any school or activity location of the child. However, the father was permitted to send gifts and cards to the child via a third party on the child's birthday and at Christmas. The mother was also ordered to ensure the father's name was recorded on the child's birth certificate and to provide a copy to the father. The orders were made pursuant to Sections 65DA(2) and 62B of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), with a Fact Sheet detailing obligations, consequences of contravention, and assistance resources attached to and incorporated into the orders.