Parenting

Looking For Assistance With Parenting Matters? Our Experienced Family Law Attorneys Will Navigate You Through The Process

If you and the other mother/father/guardian of your child or children have separated or are about to separate and you have not been able to reach an agreement between yourselves, then it’s crucial to seek legal advice from a qualified family law attorney.

In most cases, the next step will be mediation which, if successful, can be followed by the parties entering into a parenting plan or consent orders.

The Family Law Act 1975 does not set out what arrangements should be put in place for children following the breakdown of a relationship.

Instead, the Act states that the paramount consideration in determining parenting arrangements is the best interests of the child.

In deciding what is in a child’s best interests the court must consider several factors (referred to as the s60CC factors). The most significant of these are: the benefit to the child of having a meaningful relationship with each parent and the need to protect the child from physical and psychological harm. The court will also consider several additional factors including the views of the child, relationships with extended family, a parent’s involvement with the child to date and the practicality of a child spending time with each parent. Every family is different and every separation is unique. Therefore, what works for one child may not be appropriate for another. This is why parenting matters are amongst the most complex of all family law matters.

Prior to going to court, the Family Law Act 1975 requires parties to attend mediation unless a matter is urgent. There are several excellent low-cost mediation services in the Geelong area that parties can attend themselves without lawyers being present including the Family Relationship Centre, Life Works and Catholic Care. In recent times a range of private mediation services have also been established in the Geelong area. At the private mediation services it is common for both parties to be legally represented at the mediation.

At Cornish Lawyers, our experienced Geelong family lawyers are dedicated to providing quality guidance and representation in all areas of family law. Consult with our skilled team of family law attorneys in Geelong today to navigate the complexities of parenting matters and ensure the best interests of your child are protected.