WEMPLE & DAUTRY

In the matter of *Wemple & Dautry*, heard before Judge Neville, the dispute concerned interim parenting orders for a child nearing school age. The proceedings were marked by significant difficulties in the parenting relationship and conflicting evidence between the parties. A further issue before the Court was the determination of which school the child should attend, given the Father's assertion that he could not afford the school fees proposed by the Mother, who was already indebted for pre-school fees.

The Court was required to determine several legal issues. Firstly, it needed to establish the appropriate interim parenting arrangements, including the allocation of parental responsibility and the child's time with each parent. Secondly, the Court had to decide on the final schooling arrangements for the child, considering the financial circumstances of the parties and the child's best interests.

Applying the principles of the *Family Law Act 1975* (Cth), the Court made interim orders for equal shared parental responsibility. The child was to spend alternate weekends with the Father, from Friday after school until Monday before school, and one overnight in the off-week, specifically on Thursdays from after school to before school Friday. These arrangements were to apply to school holidays in the absence of written agreement, and the child was to be permitted to telephone the Mother at reasonable times when in the Father's care. On a final basis, the Court ordered that the child attend [S] Primary School commencing in Kindergarten in 2014.