Whitlock and Whitlock

In *Whitlock and Whitlock*, Judge Roberts of the Family Court of Australia made orders concerning the parental responsibility and living arrangements for two children, A and B. The dispute concerned the practical arrangements for the children's care and time spent with each parent following the breakdown of the parents' relationship.

The court was required to determine the nature of the parental responsibility to be shared by the mother and father, and to establish specific living arrangements for the children, including the division of time during school terms, school holidays, and significant annual events such as Christmas and Easter. The court also needed to address arrangements for birthdays and specific days dedicated to each parent.

Judge Roberts ordered that the mother and father have equal shared parental responsibility for the children. The primary living arrangements were conditional on the mother's residence; if she remained in the vicinity of X in Tasmania, the children would live with each parent on a week-about basis during school terms, with specific changeover times. If the mother moved away from X, the children were to live with the father, with the mother having defined time with them each second weekend during school terms. Further orders detailed the division of time during school holidays, Christmas, Easter, birthdays, and Mother's and Father's Days, aiming to ensure consistent and meaningful contact with both parents.