impact on child

A mother separated due to complaints of family violence.  The mother reported that the father was both controlling and emotionally abusive towards her in the presence of children aged 9 and 10 years, and that he...

The judge drew attention to a letter the father gave to the children at the conclusion of a contact period.  The judge interpreted the letter as having overtones of being a farewell letter, a goodbye letter,...

The case involved parents of children aged 7 and 3 years.   Parents had been unable to make joint decisions on two major long term issues involving education and health care.  The mother wanted the children to attend...

The case involved a mother who was reluctant to acknowledge that her older child was exposed to a sufficiently grave risk that the mother needed to choose between protecting her child and have a continuing relationship...

A father applied to have unsupervised access with his child aged 6 years.  The father submitted reports from two assessing psychologists in support of his application. A report by one psychologist indicated that the father “does not...

The case involved a girl aged 5 years.  The mother had a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa that was in remission, and she was in a new relationship she found to be supportive (re-partnered).  The judge found...

Parents disputed arrangements for a 10 year girl who had lived with her mother and who objected to spending time with her father (reluctant to contact).  Evidence was presented that there was a history of family...

A mother alleged that she had been subjected to family violence and took two children aged 8 and 6 years to visit members of her extended family overseas.  The mother returned only because of a court...

A couple separated having 2 children aged 11 and 10 years.  The parents agreed their children had observed one physical altercation when police were called.  The children initially spent time with the father while living with the mother. ...

A couple had an order for shared care. The mother then applied to relocate with three children aged 10, 8 and 5 years to a town 78km away. The trial judge allowed the relocation. The father...

Parents of a child aged 12 years had engaged in dispute about access for 7 years.  The child then expressed a strong view to several professionals that she no longer wanted contact with her father (child’s wishes)....

A couple had two children aged 13 and 7 years.  An initial order for shared care granted 9 days to the mother and 5 days to the father.  The mother applied for the order to be...

A couple had three children aged 10, 9 and 8 years.  Interim orders had been made for the children to live with the father and to spend time with the mother.  When the case was reviewed...

A father of two daughters aged 12 and 8 years informed his daughters that their mother was mean, and that he missed his daughters and cried every night and morning, and that he had no money...

The case involved a girl aged 12 years whose parents had engaged in legal disputes for most of her life.  The girl lived with her father.  The mother asked the judge to change a final order...

A judge made orders that did not allow children aged 11 and 7 years to spend time with their father (restrained from contact).  The father appealed. Evidence had been presented about various incidents involving the father. ...

The case involved a 4 year old girl whose parents had separated in the year of her birth, and who lived with the mother.   Several significant disputes between the parents were discussed in court.  The father...