ZARDA & ZARDA

In the matter of ZARDA & ZARDA, heard by Judge Boyle, the dispute concerned parenting arrangements for a child born in 2013. The court was required to determine the extent of parental responsibility and the nature and frequency of the father's time with the child, given the circumstances presented.

The court was tasked with determining whether to grant the mother sole parental responsibility for the child and to establish a regime for the father's time with the child, including the location and duration of such time. Further issues included the father's conduct during his time with the child, communication between the parents regarding the child's welfare, and the child's ability to travel internationally with the mother. The court also considered provisions to ensure the child's exposure to positive parental interactions and to protect the child from derogatory remarks.

Applying principles of family law, the court ordered that the mother have sole parental responsibility for the child and that the child live with the mother. The father was granted supervised time with the child, commencing with visits every second month and transitioning to once per school term from 2022, to occur at a contact centre. The father was restrained from using illicit drugs or consuming alcohol for a period before and during his time with the child. The mother was authorised to make decisions regarding the child's international travel and passport applications, and was directed to facilitate communication between the father and child via email, including sharing school reports and health updates. Both parents were restrained from making derogatory remarks about each other or their families in the child's presence or on social media.