Swefford and Tarbell

Watts J heard an application concerning parental responsibility for a child, D Tarbell. The dispute arose between the child's mother and father, who sought to resolve issues regarding long-term decision-making for their child.

The primary legal issue before the court was the allocation of parental responsibility for long-term issues concerning the child. The court was required to determine which parent, if either, should have the ultimate authority to make decisions regarding these significant matters, and what, if any, role the other parent should play in that process.

Watts J ordered that the father have sole parental responsibility for all long-term issues relating to the child. However, this was subject to a condition that the father must provide the mother with 21 days' written notice of any intended decision on long-term matters. The mother would then have 14 days to express her views in writing, which the father was required to consider before implementing his decision. Certain applications made by both the mother and father were dismissed.