Waddell and Waddell

This matter concerned an application by the mother and father for orders regarding their four children, W, X, Y, and Z. The dispute before Judge Phipps involved the arrangements for the children's living arrangements, time spent with each parent, and communication.

The court was required to determine the extent of equal shared parental responsibility for the children, where the children would primarily live, and the specific schedule for the children to spend time and communicate with the father. Additionally, the court needed to consider the circumstances under which the children's time with the father would be suspended, and to make orders regarding changeovers, attendance at school events, information sharing, and notification of serious injury or illness.

Judge Phipps ordered that the mother and father have equal shared parental responsibility for the children, and that the children live with the mother. The court then detailed a comprehensive schedule for the children to spend time and communicate with the father, including provisions for school terms, school holidays, birthdays, and electronic communication. The orders also stipulated specific periods when the children's time with the father would be suspended, and set out arrangements for changeovers, parental involvement in school and extracurricular activities, and the exchange of important information. All previous orders and extant applications were discharged or dismissed.