Question
of the week
Question of the week

Curious. Interesting. Informative.

28 November 2014

What happens to residence orders on a parent's death?

Family Law
Federal

Asked

Do orders survive a parent's death? For example, in circumstances where a mother has primary care and control of a small child and the father only spends supervised time with that child because he is an alcoholic, what happens on the mother's passing or incapacity? Does the court automatically intervene or would someone need to initiate orders that the child not be in the care and control of the father?

Answered

The residence order is personal to the mother. If she passes away, the child is in a position where there is no longer any order concerning his/her residence. It does not automatically follow that any particular person has the day to day care. Normally another family member will take matters into his or her own hands and just take the child.

If the mother is alive but lost capacity, the residence order continues.

In either case, the father's contact orders (with the restrictions) continue.

The court will not intervene of its own motion. If anyone (father or extended family) is not happy with the care arrangements, they can apply to the court for different orders.

Regards Mentor