Sapsford and Barden

In Sapsford and Barden, heard before Judge Altobelli, the dispute concerned parenting orders for a child born in 2008. The mother sought sole parental responsibility and for the child to live with her, while the father's involvement was also a key consideration.

The court was required to determine the appropriate parenting arrangements, including the allocation of parental responsibility, the child's living arrangements, and the nature and extent of the father's time with the child. Further issues included the father's responsibility for supervision costs, the process for arranging contact, the location of contact, and the father's access to information regarding the child's health and education. The court also had to consider orders restraining certain behaviours by the father, such as denigrating the mother or approaching her and the child, and provisions regarding passport applications and the finalisation of interim orders.

Judge Altobelli made orders granting the mother sole parental responsibility and determining the child's primary residence with her. The father was granted limited, supervised time with the child on four occasions annually, with the father bearing the costs of supervision. Specific protocols were established for arranging these visits, including notice periods and confirmation requirements, and all contact was to occur in a public place. The father was granted limited access to the child's medical and educational information, and both parents were restrained from denigrating each other in the child's presence. The father was also significantly restrained from contacting or approaching the mother and child, attending the child's school, or photographing the child, with specific exceptions. The orders were made interim for three months before becoming final, with liberty to relist the matter within that period.