Towns and Towns

Cleary J made orders concerning the parental responsibility, residence, and communication arrangements for two children, X and Y. The dispute involved the parents' arrangements for the children following prior orders.

The court was required to determine the appropriate orders for parental responsibility, residence, and time and communication between the children and their father. This included establishing the extent of the father's involvement in the children's lives, particularly in light of the need for supervised contact.

Cleary J ordered that the mother have sole parental responsibility for the children, with the children to reside with her. The father's time with the children was to be supervised by an agency, occurring for two hours on the first Saturday of each school holiday period, with specific provisions for arranging and funding these visits. The father was also restrained from speaking critically of the mother or the court proceedings to the children, and from contacting the children by telephone without the mother's prior written consent. The mother was to keep the father informed in writing of long-term decisions regarding the children's care, welfare, and development, and to facilitate school report sharing. The court also made orders regarding communication between the parties and the children, and the father's attendance at school functions. Prior orders concerning the children were discharged.