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Parenting orders
You can formalise your parenting plan by filling in and registering consent orders through
the court. On most occasions you will not need to attend court to register the consent
orders for your children The Family Courts do not charge any fees for lodging consent
orders. Parenting orders are enforceable and binding upon both parties. Both parties need
to agree to any changes to the orders.
The Family
Law Web Guide contains further information on the difference between Parenting Plans
and Parenting Orders made by consent.
If you are unable to reach an agreement about the care of your children, you can apply to
the court and a Judge or Federal Magistrate will make orders about the care, welfare and
development of your children for you. These are called parenting orders. While the court
will consider the views and wishes of both parents and other significant figures, such as
grandparents, the court must regard the best interests of the child as the paramount
consideration.
If you think another person is not complying with a parenting order
When a parenting order is made, each person affected by the order must comply with
(follow) the order. If you allege another person has not complied with an order you can:
The Family Law Courts have a detailed fact sheet on
Compliance with parenting orders.
More information
