Children & Parenting Agreements Central Coast

Separation is usually a stressful time for your children. They may experience a range of emotions that are difficult for them to deal with and talk about with you.  They may behave in ways that are unusual for them. People considering separation or divorce are encouraged to use services in the community to resolve issues. 

Community-based services that can help you and your family include:

• Family Counselling
• Family Dispute Resolution
• Arbitration

Advantages of Children & Parenting Agreements

Reaching an agreement can offer many advantages, such as:

• You make your own decisions
• You greatly reduce the financial and emotional costs of legal proceedings
• Your continuing relationship as parents is likely to work better
• You are able to move forward and make a new life for yourself
• You may improve communication with your former partner and be better able to resolve disputes in the future

If you cannot reach an agreement, you may consider applying to the court for orders. In the Family Court, parties intending to apply for parenting orders must follow pre-action procedures before filing an application. Alternatively, to have an enforceable arrangement the parties can formalise the parenting arrangements by consent orders.



This means that the parties need to undertake mediation and have a Section 60I Certificate issued before commencing proceedings, unless they come within one of the exceptions.

Linda Emery, our family lawyer on the Central Coast can guide you through this process and provide the most appropriate legal advice.