Raymond & Harold

In the matter of *Raymond & Harold*, heard by Young J, the court was required to determine parenting orders concerning the child, S, born in November 2002. The dispute centred on the arrangements for the child's residence, time spent with each parent, communication, and other related matters, following the discharge of previous orders.

The legal issues before the court included the establishment of equal shared parental responsibility, the primary residence of the child, the specific schedule for the child's time with each parent, including weekends, weekdays, holidays, and birthdays, and provisions for communication between the child and the non-resident parent. The court also had to consider orders relating to the child's surname, education, medical care, parental communication, and the conduct of the parents regarding discussions about court proceedings and denigration of each other.

Young J ordered the discharge of all previous child and parenting orders. The parents were granted equal shared parental responsibility for the child, with the child to live with the mother. Detailed provisions were made for the child's time with the father, encompassing alternate weekends, specific weekday periods, Father's Day and Mother's Day arrangements, school holidays, Christmas and New Year periods, and the child's birthday. The court also mandated regular communication between the child and the non-resident parent, the use of a communication book or email for child-related matters, and specified changeover venues and times. Further orders addressed the child's surname, continued primary education at K Primary School, parental notification of address changes, and the exchange of medical and educational information. Both parents were restrained from discussing court proceedings with the child or denigrating the other parent in the child's presence. The appointment of the Independent Children’s Lawyer was discharged.