Edmonds Judd

children

Goodwill and good process will help prevent turmoil

The time following a separation can be highly emotional – for you and your spouse or partner, and for your children.

 

In this fraught environment, disputes can easily arise about the day-to-day care arrangements for your children or other vital issues such as where they will live, schooling, medical care, religious/cultural choices and so on. These are formally called guardianship matters.

 

In cases where the children are safe in their respective parent’s care, there are numerous ways in which care arrangements can be resolved and guardianship decisions made, without the need to involve the Family Court. A co-parenting relationship extends well beyond the uncertain period following a separation.

 

The best case scenario? Parents agree to ongoing care arrangements and guardianship matters between themselves and cooperatively focus on what is in the best interests of their children.

 

These best case scenarios, however, are not always possible, especially when disputes arise at a sensitive or acrimonious time for separating parents.

 

Can’t reach agreement?

What happens if parents cannot agree? Either parent can initiate the Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) process:

  • This is a mediation service, without lawyers, that deals specifically with care and guardianship disputes
  • A mediator is assigned to work with both parents, individually and/or collectively, to achieve an agreement, and
  • If agreement is reached, this can be documented in a mediated agreement.

 

If parents cannot reach agreement from the FDR process, then either parent can pursue the matter through the Family Court. Importantly, FDR is a prerequisite to attend the Family Court, unless there are urgent concerns for a child.

 

Some parents rely on third party assistance:

  • In many instances, parents can reach agreement after receiving (and following) advice and guidance
  • Using a third party can give conflicting parents an objective perspective, particularly at such an emotional time, and
  • Such support can be obtained through lawyers, counsellors and/or personal support networks such as family and/or friends.

 

Formalising the arrangements

Once you’ve reached agreement, some parents like (or it may be necessary) to have their children’s care arrangements formalised. This can be done with a parenting agreement; this document outlines the specific care arrangements and/or relevant guardianship provisions for children that both parents sign and (should) adhere to.

 

Alternatively, parents can consent to the terms of their agreement with a parenting order; this is a court-sealed document that collates the agreed terms and can be enforced if there are unconsented breaches.

 

Whatever the care provisions, it is in a child’s best interests for arrangements to be tailored to their age, stage and needs. Such arrangements should evolve with each child’s needs and stages and be regularly reviewed. Lawyers and counsellors who specialise in family and child disputes are often well equipped to provide advice on age appropriate arrangements and options.

 

Last resort is the Family Court

A Family Court hearing can be an expensive process – not only financially, but it can also take a significant toll emotionally and on the time of both parents, their children and their support networks. It also involves placing the decision regarding your children in the hands of a third party, the judge.

 

Obviously, having the parents cooperate and reach agreement is always going to be the best outcome for a family. However, there will be some situations where using the Family Court is necessary and preferred, such as when parents cannot reach agreement, where there are safety concerns for a child in either (or both) parents’ care or if urgent intervention is required (for example, preventing a child from being taken out of New Zealand).

 

If you are separating and need guidance about arrangements for your children, it’s important to get advice from a specialist family lawyer. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if this happens to you.

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: All the information published in Fineprint is true and accurate to the best of the authors’ knowledge. It should not be a substitute for legal advice. No liability is assumed by the authors or publisher for losses suffered by any person or organisation relying directly or indirectly on this newsletter. Views expressed are those of individual authors, and do not necessarily reflect the view of Edmonds Judd. Articles appearing in Fineprint may be reproduced with prior approval from the editor and credit given to the source.
Copyright, NZ LAW Limited, 2022.     Editor: Adrienne Olsen.       E-mail: [email protected].       Ph: 029 286 3650


Shared parenting

Relocating the children without consent

Deciding to move to a new location can be exciting and bring a sense of renewal, particularly after a long cold winter and enduring these Covid years.

 

However, if you are separated with children, what happens to ongoing parenting arrangements in these situations? Can you move with your children without agreement from the other parent?

 

If you do this, it is referred to as a ‘unilateral relocation’, and it can result in applications filed and court orders sought. Both parents are considered a guardian of the children, regardless of how much contact one of the parents may have. There are certain decisions about a child that are ‘guardianship decisions.’ You must discuss these with the other parent. Topics to talk about include where a child lives, where they go to school, any medical decisions and so on.

 

The process

Whatever the reasons for you considering a move, the best option is to discuss this openly and honestly with the other parent. Understandably, the idea of your children moving away can be difficult for the other parent.

 

It may be that you can reach an agreement between the two of you. If it becomes difficult, you can get help initially with mediation forums outside of the Family Court.

 

If you cannot agree, you can file an ‘application to resolve a dispute between guardians’ in your local Family Court and the court will decide for you. The court will look at specific factors, including:

  • What is in the best interests of your children
  • Your children’s relationship with you both
  • What contact arrangements would look like for the other parent, as the court recognises the importance of your children having a relationship with both of you
  • The ages of your children, and
  • Your children’s views on the move.

 

Don’t want them to move?

If your children have not yet moved, and you don’t want them to, you can file an application in the Family Court to stop the children from being moved within New Zealand. You can also ask the court for an ‘order preventing removal’ to stop the children from leaving New Zealand. These applications can be filed on a ‘without notice’ basis, where you ask the court to consider the application without first hearing from the other party.

In this application, you ask the court to make an order that states the children cannot be removed from a specified location (within New Zealand or from New Zealand). With this order in place, it limits your children being removed until further investigations could occur or agreement is reached.

 

What if they are moved anyway?

If the children are relocated without your consent, you can apply to the Family Court for the children to be returned to where they had been living. You would file again for a guardianship order that your children reside in a particular place, and then file for a parenting order. The court will generally favour the status quo location of your children, which is where they were

living for the most recent period before they moved. In determining these applications, the court will always consider what is in the welfare and best interests of the children. This is a paramount consideration.

 

Children’s best interests come first

It is important that your children are happy and settled, and that their interests come first. Ideally both parents will work together to ensure arrangements for their children’s welfare are agreed harmoniously. If, however, agreements can’t be reached, there are options for court intervention. It is wise to try and avoid that as it can be very expensive and take a long time. Most of all, it can affect your children’s relationship with both parents – and no one wants that.

 

If you are concerned about where your children are living, or that they could be moved without your consent, please be in touch with us straight away so we can avoid too much heartache for everyone.

 

DISCLAIMER: All the information published in Fineprint is true and accurate to the best of the authors’ knowledge. It should not be a substitute for legal advice. No liability is assumed by the authors or publisher for losses suffered by any person or organisation relying directly or indirectly on this newsletter. Views expressed are those of individual authors, and do not necessarily reflect the view of Edmonds Judd. Articles appearing in Fineprint may be reproduced with prior approval from the editor and credit given to the source.
Copyright, NZ LAW Limited, 2022.     Editor: Adrienne Olsen.       E-mail: [email protected].       Ph: 029 286 3650