Your rights as a parent Decisions such as religion, education, discipline, medical treatment and where the child lives will not be interfered with unless there are good reasons or the child's well-being is at risk - for example, if there is abuse, if the child is not receiving education or necessary medical treatments.
Technically, mothers' rights vs fathers' rights do not exist in Australia. The Family Law Amendment Act 2006 changed the emphasis from the parents to the children; the term 'shared parental responsibility' is now used instead.
A mother cannot deny a father access to their children in Australia. There is a presumption of equal and shared parental responsibility. Only an order from a local court, Federal Circuit Court or Family Court of Australia would be able to stop a father from accessing their children in Australia.
In Australia, if you and the other parent cannot come to an agreement on custody, then either parent can apply to the court for a custodial order. Before making a decision, the court will need to be satisfied that such an order is in the best interests of the child.
In Australia, there is no minimum age which a child can legally refuse to see a parent following divorce or separation. Of course, once children of divorce reach the age of 18 years they can make their own decisions about where they live or which parent they want to spend time with.
There is no set age at which a child can choose who they live with, or choose when (or whether) they see the other parent. A child is legally a minor until he/she turns 18.
What exactly is an unfit parent in the eyes of the law? The legal definition of an unfit parent is when the parent through their conduct fails to provide proper guidance, care, or support. Also, if there is abuse, neglect, or substance abuse issues, that parent will be deemed unfit.
Father takes a majority of custody
Based on information collected for the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS), data from 2014 showed that 83% of child custody arrangements ordered a majority of (or complete) custody to the mother. In just 9% of cases, custody is split evenly between a mother and father.
Whilst Australia does not require a child to spend equal time with each parent, many families do choose a 50/50 schedule, such as one of the following. 2-2-3 schedule: This has the child spend two days with one parent, the following two days with the other parent, then three days with the start parent.
AIFS found that fathers gain sole custody in about 10% of all cases, fathers are the primary custodial parent in about 11% of cases, and fathers share custody in about 7% of cases.
Examples of unfit parents include those who have drug or alcohol problems and foster an unsafe living environment as a result or a parent with a mental illness who is unstable.
There is no set time for a father to be absent to lose his rights in Australia. The only way for a father to lose their parental rights is through a court order made through the Family Court. Sole parental responsibility is when one parent is responsible for the major long-term decisions of the child.
There is no set geographical distance dictating exactly how far away you can move with your child, but but if that distance is deemed to significantly affect the other parent's ability to have a meaningful relationship with the child, then the court will need to establish if the move is in the child's best interests.
In 51% of child custody cases, both parents agree for the mother to be the custodial parent. In just over half of child-custody battles, parents come to a mutual agreement for the mother to be awarded primary custody of the child(ren).
Statistics show that women win child custody rights a staggering 90% of the time , even though fathers play an important role in their children's lives pre and post-divorce.
You know you want a divorce, and you are ready to leave your marriage. Yet you worry about your child. You want them to come with you, but if you leave your husband or wife, can you take your child? The short answer is no — you can't just take your child with you when you leave a marriage.
50:50 care can also be considered naturally fair in financial terms. We know that parents with higher incomes tend to spend more on their children. So, in a 50:50 care situation, the parent with the higher income would normally spend more. That happens without the need for forced payments.
In Australia shared custody means that the non-residential parent pays child support to the residential parent. In the case of a 50/50 split, the higher earner usually pays child support to the lower earner to ensure the children's standard of living is the same in both locations.
There is no rule that children must spend equal or "50:50" time with each parent. In most cases, it's best that both parents discuss their child's individual needs, and come to their own agreement about where a child will live, and how they will spend time with their parents.
How To Apply For Sole Custody Australia? The parent who is seeking sole custody will need to rebut the presumption of equal shared parental responsibility, and prove that having sole custody is in the best interests of the child.
Joint custody is the most common type of child custody arrangement. But there are different types of joint custody. And in some cases, sole custody may be the best solution. Here's what to consider when negotiating child custody.
choose which parent to live with
There is no set age in Australia and it is a factor to be considered. Children up to the age of 17 have had their wishes ignored. on their assessed maturity level and capacity to make decisions.
Similarly, try not to question children about what took place during their interviews or ask what they said. Please do not tell children what to say in the interviews. Even saying to a child that they need to “tell how they feel” can be unhelpful.
NSW-based solicitor Kayte Lewis says settling a family court matter in mediation typically costs around $20,000. If it went to litigation, the cost would be more like $100,000. "Where children are involved there is compulsory mediation in the early stages and with reasonable people, mediation works," she says.
What is Malicious Parent Syndrome? Malicious Parent Syndrome (MPS) is a type of vengeful behavior exhibited by some divorcing or separated parents. It occurs when a parent deliberately tries to place the other bad parent in a bad light and harm their child's relationship with them.