Focusing on your children's needs.
Preston & Associates family lawyers encourage our clients to take a child-focused approach when resolving parenting disputes.
Often negotiations in relation to parenting arrangements involve high emotions and require a sensitive pragmatic approach.
Upon separation, parents will need to consider which parent the children will live with, and how they will spend time with each parent. It is our experience that parenting matters are best resolved by focusing on the needs of children and adopting a collaborative and amicable approach.
We recognise children suffer considerably when their parents are involved in hostile and lengthy parenting disputes, which is why we support our clients to resolve parenting matters as quickly and harmoniously as possible.
We encourage our clients to explore out of court processes such as negotiations and mediations, in order to reach an agreement.
What to consider when negotiating parenting matters.
We have noted valuable information parents must consider when negotiating parenting matters.
Parental Responsibility.
The Family Law Act provides that each parent has parental responsibility for their children.
Further, the Family Law Act requires the court (when making a parenting Order) to apply the presumption that it is in the children’s best interest for the parents to have equal shared parental responsibility.
This is different to who the children will live with and the amount of time they spend with each parent.
Parenting Arrangements.
Deciding where and how long children will live with each parent is an important decision for parents.
It is preferable for parents to make these decisions collaboratively and amicably rather than leave it to the Courts.
However, some complex matters do require a court decision. Preston and Associates have extensive experience in assisting parents both out of court and in court to resolve their parenting issues.
Child Relocation.
Parents must obtain permission from the other parents before relocating their children to another town/city, state or country.
If parental consent is not given, the court will be required to decide whether the parent is permitted to relocate the children.
It is vital that parents considering a possible relocation of children seek expert legal advice to ensure they are making an informed decision before relocation.
Approaching family law matters with empathy and professionalism.
Our family lawyers have the knowledge and expertise to guide clients through emotional legal matters.
