Sabado & Sabado

The case of *Sabado & Sabado* concerned parenting arrangements and spousal maintenance. The mother sought orders for sole parental responsibility for the children, that the children live with her, and that they spend only daytime with the father. She also sought sole use and occupation of the family home, from which she and the children had been excluded by the father's conduct. The father applied for spousal maintenance.

The court was required to determine several key issues. Firstly, it had to consider the applicable principles for interim parenting orders, particularly in light of allegations of family violence perpetrated by the father and his anger management issues. Secondly, the court needed to assess whether to grant the mother sole use and occupation of the family home. Finally, the court had to determine whether the father had established an entitlement to spousal maintenance.

In relation to parenting, Foster J found that the father had perpetrated family violence and had anger management issues, which weighed heavily in favour of the mother having sole parental responsibility. The court ordered that the children live with the mother and have only daytime contact with the father, and that both parents attend a parenting course. Regarding the family home, the court granted the mother sole use and occupation, acknowledging that the father's conduct had led to the exclusion of the mother and children. The father's application for spousal maintenance was dismissed, as he had not demonstrated an inability to support himself in the circumstances.