Consent Orders / Agreements
Parenting and consent orders
If parents cannot agree about the arrangements for their children, the Family Court will make "parenting orders" formalising their parental responsibilities.
If you agree about the arrangements for your children, you may wish to make the agreement legally binding by asking the Court to make "consent orders". However before you take this step, you should seek independent legal advice to ensure you and your children's interests are protected by the agreement.
Requirement to attend Mediation
If you are unable to reach an agreement in relation to the arrangements for your children, you can't commence proceedings in the Family Court, unless you first attend mediation with a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP). There are some limited exceptions to this rule. Please refer to the Family Dispute Resolution tab on our website for more details.
Children's issues need professional legal advice
Every household situation is unique so to help ensure your child gets the best outcome he/she deserves, seek prompt legal advice. An expert family lawyer can -
- advise on how to make your agreement legally binding should you agree about the arrangements for your children;
- explain whether consent orders, parenting orders and parenting plans apply to your particular circumstances;
- help mediate and resolve any disputes should you not agree about the arrangements for your children; and
- make any court appearances, where relevant;
We can also provide advice to the sensitive and serious issues of parentage and DNA testing, child abuse and domestic violence. At Paterson and Dowding, we have years of experience in Family Law and will dedicate our efforts to ensure you understand your obligations as parents and protect your child's interests under the law.