SAKALA & BAFTUS

In the Family Court of Australia, Judge Obradovic presided over proceedings involving Mr Sakala and Ms Baftus concerning their children. The dispute centred on orders relating to the children's names and parental responsibility, with the hearing proceeding undefended by Ms Baftus.

The court was required to determine whether to grant orders authorising the father, Mr Sakala, to change the registered names of the parties' three children. Additionally, the court had to consider and make orders regarding the children's living arrangements, time spent with each parent, and the allocation of parental responsibility.

Judge Obradovic made orders that the children, X, Z, and Y, shall henceforth be known by specific names, and authorised Mr Sakala to apply to the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in New South Wales to have the children’s names registered accordingly. The court further ordered that the father shall have sole parental responsibility for decisions concerning the long-term care, welfare, and development of the children, and that the children shall live with the father and spend no time with the mother. The court directed that a sealed copy of the orders be served on the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages and removed all outstanding issues from the list of cases awaiting finalisation.