When does a Court only Order ‘Substantial & Significant Time’ for a Parent with their Child
If it is not appropriate for a Child to spend equal time with each parent, then the Court must consider a Child spending substantial and significant time with a parent.
Substantial and significant time requires that the time a parent spends with a child:
- include time on weekends and holidays; and
- include time on other days, both day time and night time; and
- allow the parent to be involved in the child’s daily routine; and
- allow for participation in events that are significant to the child and parent. This might include sporting events, birthdays or father’s day.
The requirements for substantial and significant time are intended to ensure that the Court considers making parenting arrangements that provide for more time being spent, than just each alternate weekend and half of the school holidays.
The intention is for both parents to be involved with the children for both ‘fun’ time and the more difficult (or less fun) time involved in meeting a child’s needs during weekdays involving, school, routine etc.
More Information on Child’s Time with Parents & Parental Responsibility
We also have the following Fact Sheets which will provide you with more information on this topic:
- What is Shared Care or Equal Time and will it apply to us
- What is Substantial and Significant Time and when does it apply
- What is Parental Responsibility and What types of Parental Responsibility Orders do Courts make
- What is Equal Shared Parental Responsibility
- When does Equal Shared Parental Responsibility apply
- What does Sole Parental Responsibility mean
- When will Sole Parental Responsibility be Ordered
- Who makes long term, short term and day to day decisions for the Child
- What are the major Long Term Issues that must be made by parents with Shared Parental Responsibility
- What are Grandparents Rights to see their Grandchildren
- Mediation Requirements before Court Proceedings
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All Topics in the Child Issues Section
- Types of Parental Responsibility Orders
- Child’s Time with Parents: Shared Care or not
- Grandparents: Rights to see Grandchildren
- Documenting a Parenting Agreement
- Best Interests of the Children
- Relocation of a Parent with a Child
- Change of a Child’s Surname
- Child Passports & Overseas Travel after Separation or Divorce
- How to change a Final Parenting Order previously made by the Court
- International Child Abduction
