NOTICE ALERT IN LIGHT OF COVID-19
WHAT WE PROPOSE AND HOW WE CAN ASSIST
At Watson & Watson our clients come first. Please be assured of our continued dedicated services to all current and new clients.
As we have done in the past, we will continue to offer alternative conferencing methods ie video conferencing, skype or telephone conferences. Reviewing of all documentation provided to us prior to any initial conference will be all inclusive of our set fee. Do not hesitate to contact Shereen Da Gloria on (02) 9221 6011 should you have any concerns.
21/08/2015
The Family Law Act 1975 empowers the Family Court of Australia or the Federal Circuit Court of Australia to make parenting Orders. Parenting Orders are Orders made in relation to a child or children (or variations, suspensions, revivals of earlier Court Orders) that deal with one or more of the following:-
Who Can Apply
The Family Law Act allows certain persons to make an application to the Family Court of Australia or the Federal Circuit Court of Australia for parenting Orders. Section 65C of the Act provides that an application may be made by:-
(ba) The grandparent of the child; or
The Court has recently again considered the issue of when a person who is not a parent or a grandparent but a person who is said to be interested in the care, welfare and development of a child.
In the recent case of Grimshaw and Thanh the Federal Circuit Court dismissed an application made by a person who asserted that he was the de facto father or step father of the child. In determining the case the Court confirmed that the Applicant in the proceedings had the right under the Act to file an application with the Court. It also confirmed that a parenting Order may be made in favour of a person other than a parent.
Importantly, the Court said that in order to proceed beyond the mere making of the application for the Applicant for a parenting Order must demonstrate that they are a person concerned with the care, welfare and development of the child. The Court required satisfaction of a threshold test which needs to be determined on the individual facts and circumstances of each case.
The court said that an application for a parenting Order must be made by a person actually interested or concerned in the welfare of the child but not a mere busybody who had no prior involvement or connection with the child. In that particular case the Orders were opposed by the parents of the child who had resumed co-habitation and were regarded as an intact family.
The applicant failed in his case.
Please do not hesitate to telephone Richard Watson or Dennis Grant should you have any queries or concerns relating to parenting orders.