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2. Parenting Arrangements

After separation, there will often be a period where there is some uncertainty about future arrangements for the children.

Couples essentially have three options available to them for making arrangements for future parenting:-

1. By Informal Agreement
2. By Parenting Plan or Consent Orders
3. By Application to the Court (no agreement)

Obviously, the first options involving an agreement and arrangements worked out between the parents is by far the best approach as it allows both parties to have input and be involved in the decision making.  It also has other benefits of saving money in court fees, the arrangements are often more flexible and the children can see that their parents are able to work co-operatively.

Parties can leave arrangements as “informal” if they choose.  This means that there would be no formal orders or plan, but simply a verbal arrangement.  Many parties are able to successfully keep parenting arrangements as “informal “ over many years and vary arrangements as needed between themselves.

In some situations however, certainty is required.  If this is the case, then there are two options available to parents: Consent Orders or Parenting Plans.

Parenting Plans

A Parenting Plan is a written agreement between two parents, signed by each party. A Parenting Plan can include other people such as grandparents, step parents or carers, however both parents must sign the agreement.

A Parenting Plan can contain the same provisions as court orders or be left more flexible.

Consent Orders

A Consent Order is an Order made by the Court with the consent of both parties. If agreement is reached, then a Consent Order is made without the need for parties to attend Court. The agreement is put in writing on a court form and then mailed or hand delivered to the registry to be made into an order by the Registrar at the court.

In most cases, our office will use the Parramatta registry of the Family Court or the Windsor local court, depending on the nature of the matter.

It is not necessary to attend Court to have Orders made by consent. The documentation, once signed, is filed with the Court and Orders are issued with the Court's seal.

Anything that can be included in a Parenting Plan (with the exemption of Child Support provisions) can be included in a Consent Order as well.

What is best for me?

There are advantages and disadvantages to each type of formal agreement.  A large majority of people prefer the certainty of Consent Orders, however other couples are happy with the flexibility of Parenting Plans.

Some of the major differences between the two are that Consent Orders can be enforced by a contravention application at the Court, whereas Parenting Plans cannot.  A Parenting Plan does not vary a Court Order but reflects the agreement reached by the parties at the time and can be used in Court.  A Consent Order however will discharge all prior Orders if required and new Orders will issue.

Our office can assist with both Parenting Plans and Consent Orders.  Ask your solicitor for more information.

In cases where parties cannot reach an agreement, or there is some urgency involved, an application to the Court will be required, this is discussed more in Fact Sheet 3: Parenting Orders.