Ralton & Ralton

This matter concerned an application by the father for parenting orders regarding two children, X and Y. The dispute revolved around the primary care and responsibility for the children, as well as the nature and extent of the mother's future involvement with them. The case was heard by Judge Riethmuller.

The court was required to determine who should have sole parental responsibility for the children, where the children should live, and the specific arrangements for the children's time with each parent. Additionally, the court needed to consider the terms of any injunctions against the mother's contact with the children and the school, and to make orders regarding counselling and programs for the parents and children.

Judge Riethmuller ordered that the father have sole parental responsibility for the children, with the proviso that he must keep the mother informed of and seek her input on significant long-term decisions. The children were ordered to live with the father and to be enrolled at a specific primary school. The mother was restrained by injunction from contacting the children or attending their school until January 2017, with specific exceptions. The orders then detailed a phased approach to the mother's future time with the children, commencing with supervised contact and progressing to unsupervised time, including half of all school holidays. The court also made extensive orders for counselling and programs for both parents and the children, and for the Independent Children's Lawyer to explain the orders to the children.