We are able to assist most of our clients to reach an agreement about parenting arrangements for their children. Any agreement can be formalised Consent Orders, filed with the Court, which then have legal force.

Alternatively, parents can keep their arrangements informal. Whether it is more appropriate for you to have formal or informal arrangements will depend on you and your children's circumstances.

Parenting orders can deal with a wide variety of matters, including:

• With whom the children should live.
• What time each party should spend with the children.
• What communication each party should have with the children.
• Who has what responsibility for making which decisions about the children.
• Specific issues such as which school the children should attend.

It is possible for people other than the parents (such as grandparents or other persons interested in the upbringing of the children) to obtain parenting orders about the children.

In all parenting matters, the best interests of the children are paramount.

See our factsheets on:

• Children's Matters
• Children – Agreements/Orders – Informal and Formal
• Children – How the Court decides
• Independent Children's Lawyer
• Children's Cases Program