TIMBERLAKE & JUDD

In the matter of Timberlake & Judd, Judge Neville considered parenting orders concerning a child born in 2016. The dispute arose in the context of significant conflict between the parents, allegations of drug use by the Father, and the Mother's mental health issues, which were being managed with professional support and financial and emotional assistance from the Maternal Grandparents. The parties also resided a considerable distance apart.

The court was required to determine the most appropriate parenting arrangements for the child, taking into account the high level of conflict, the history of domestic violence, the Mother's mental health, the Father's alleged drug use, and the geographical separation of the parents. Key issues included the allocation of parental responsibility, the child's living arrangements, and the nature and extent of the Father's time with the child.

Judge Neville ordered that the Applicant Mother have sole parental responsibility, with the child to live with the Mother and Maternal Grandparents. The Mother was required to consult the Father on major long-term issues and remain living primarily with her parents until the child turned eight, and to follow all recommendations from her health professionals. The Father's time with the child was initially to be supervised at a designated centre, with graduated time to revert to unsupervised alternate Sundays conditional upon the Father producing clean hair follicle drug tests. The orders also included provisions for injunctions restraining derogatory remarks about the other parent and ensuring information sharing regarding the child's health and education.