There is a presumption under the Family Law Act that both parents have “equal parental responsibility” for their children. However, the phrase can ring hollow depending on the circumstances.

It is important that fathers stay in their children’s lives and we can advise on how best to achieve this outcome over the short and long term.

We can assist you negotiate a fair outcome with your ex-partner, provide you with legal advice, and represent you at Family Court.

If you and your ex-partner can come to an agreement about parenting arrangements, we can assist you in drafting a parenting plan or consent orders.

A parenting plan is a written agreement signed by the parties setting out the agreed parenting arrangements. A parenting plan is not a legally enforceable agreement, but many parents find it suitable for navigating parenting arrangements. Parenting plans are quite easy to make and to amend as your circumstances change.

Consent orders provide a mechanism to make an informal agreement legally binding and therefore enforceable through the Court. Consent orders are difficult to amend but provide certainty in parenting arrangements.

If you and your ex-partner cannot agree on parenting arrangements, the first step is to participate in Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) to help you resolve your issues. We can assist you with this process and provide context regarding FDR options, including suggesting FDR practitioners that might suit your circumstances.

If FDR is not successful, upon being issued a Section 60 I Certificate by the FDR practitioner, you can make an application to the Court for parenting orders.

We can advise you on the possible outcomes of your application and draft the required documents on your behalf to form your application, including the Court orders you are seeking, and provide representation at Court.