Child Custody
- Child Abduction
- Child Abduction and Recovery Orders
- Abduction Recovery Order
- Adult Child Maintenance Orders
- Child Custody – Affidavits
- Child Custody – Airport Watchlist Order
- Applying for Full Custody of a Child
- Best Interests of the Child
- Blended Families Child Custody
- Blended Famlies
- Child Custody Laws Australia
- Child Handovers
- Child Protection Orders or Parenting Orders?
- Child Travelling Overseas After Separation
- Chimin v Fiato: How Delays Can Affect the Outcome of Proceedings
- Co-Parenting of Infants and Young Children
- Communication Book
- Contravening Parenting Orders
- Contraventions / Breaching Orders
- Drug Testing in Parenting Matters
- Parenting Matters in Australia
- Compulsory Family Dispute Resolution
- Drug Testing Parenting Matters
- Family Dispute Resolution/60I Certificate
- Family Reports in Parenting Matters
- Family Law Watchlist Orders
- What Is a Family Report?
- Family Reports and the Single Expert: Behrendt & Cadenet
- Family Violence Allegations in Parenting Matters
- Can Grandparents Apply for Parenting Orders?
- Grandparents and Parenting Orders
- Immunisation of Children in Parenting Matters
- Independent Children’s Lawyers
- Interim v Final Parenting Orders
- International Child Custody Arrangements
- Keane & Keane: Parenting Orders and the Re Andrews Principle
- Can Children Decide Where They Live?
- Location Orders and Recovery Orders
- Mental Illness and Parenting Orders
- Mother vs Father Custody Statistics in Australia
- My Ex Is Taking Drugs: Drug Testing in Family Law
- Neglect and Parenting Matters
- Negotiation is the First Step in Custody Disputes
- No Contact Orders
- Parental Responsibility
- Parenting After Separation Courses
- Parenting After Separation Courses
- Parenting Matters and Aboriginal Children
- Parenting Orders
- Final Parenting Orders: the Rule in Rice v Asplund
- Parenting Plans in Australia
- How Much Does Paternity Testing Mean?
- Presumptions of Parentage
- Recovery Order
- Religion in Parenting Matters
- Relocation of Children
- Relocation and Parenting Matters
- Repayment of Child Suport
- Sexual Abuse
- Shared Care in Parenting Matters
- Sharenting in Family Law Matters
- Sole Parental Responsibility
- Supervised Contact
- Tanberg & Remmy: Best Interests of the Child
- The Views of Children in Parenting Matters
- What is the Family Court’s Lighthouse Project?
- Why Do I Need a Parenting Plan?
The breakdown of a marriage or de facto relationship is often one of the most traumatic and stressful experiences of your life. This is often exacerbated if there are children of the relationship, and they are likely to be experiencing their own trauma as a result of the separation, especially if there are conflicts related to child custody arrangements.
Communication
It is always going to be better for your children if you and the other parent can communicate in a civil and respectful manner and reach a mutual agreement about arrangements that will be best for your children. However, it is not always possible to reach an agreement about all aspects of the parenting arrangements. In the event of a dispute in relation to child custody arrangements it is most important that you obtain advice about:
- the resources that are available to assist you and the other parent to reach agreement about the future arrangements for the children, such as Parenting After Separation programs and literature by child psychologists;
- the options available for formalising any agreement reached in the event there is a need to have the parenting agreement reflected in writing;
- exploring family dispute resolution options to reach an agreement in relation to the parenting arrangements;
- the avenues you can take where no agreement can be reached between you and your former spouse or partner.
Parenting (child custody) arrangements
Throughout the process of working out parenting arrangements after separation, it is important to understand and keep in mind how the law determines parenting arrangements when there is no agreement between parties, and what principles are followed when making such a determination. The Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) sets out the considerations when determining what parenting arrangements are in the best interests of the children.
The Family Law Act requires the court to consider the need to protect the rights of children and to promote their welfare, and the main consideration is the child’s best interests and ensuring the child’s safety. Parenting arrangements are determined by focusing on what’s best for the child rather than the wishes of the parents.
The issues that commonly arise in relation to parenting arrangements (relating to child custody) include:
- how to make important decisions about children – for example the choice of school, medical treatment and religion;
- who the children will live with and how much time they will spend with the other parent or any other significant person such as grandparents or step-parents;
- whether children travel overseas;
- whether the interests of the children are affected by issues such as family violence, sexual abuse, drug use or mental illness;
- whether the children should relocate to another town, city or country with one parent;
- special medical procedures for children requiring permission from the Family Court;
- whether a child’s name should be changed.
Awards & Recognition
Consistently recognised by Doyle's Guide
The lawyers leading our practice are consistently recognised by Doyle's Guide, featuring across both leading firm and recommended lawyer categories.
Doyle's Guide independently ranks Australia's top lawyers and law firms based on peer review and client feedback across all major practice areas.
- Recommended Criminal Defence Law Firm NSW
- Recommended Criminal Lawyer ACT Stephanie Beckedahl
- Recommended Criminal Defence Law Firm NSW
- Leading Criminal Lawyer NSW Trudie Cameron
- Recommended Criminal Defence Law Firm NSW
- Leading Criminal Lawyer NSW Trudie Cameron
- Rising Star in Criminal Law NSW Sophie Ogborne
- Recommended Criminal Defence Law Firm NSW
- Leading Criminal Lawyer NSW Trudie Cameron