Contravention of Parenting Orders

 

Contravention of parenting orders

A contravention is when one disobeys an order. It is typically when one parent does not comply with the orders that the court has made with no reasonable excuse and intentionally does so (s 70NAC(a) of the Family Law Act). Before you file an “Application – Contravention” you should first consider what it is you want to achieve. Should you then make an application, the Court can make a range of orders such as:

  • Compensation for time that has been lost;
  • Puts the person who contravened on notice if that person does not comply with an order and the person will be punished
  • Varies an existing order;
  • Punishes the person who has contravened by issuing a fine or imprisonment.

If you wish for the other party not to be punished but wish to settle the contravention amicably, you may be able to do so by filling an Application in a Case rather than an Application- Contravention. You should however seek legal advice first as to your best option.

What happens?
If there has been a contravention, the most common outcome are orders for make-up time and for the parent who has breached the orders to attend a parenting course (in the event it is a first-time breach).

 

Penalties for not complying
A person can only be penalised by a Court for failing to comply with a parenting order. The Court will first consider all of the facts of the case and apply the law to decide whether it was:

  • not established (the alleged contravention);
  • established but the person had a reasonable excuse;
  • less serious contravention without having a reasonable excuse;
  • more serious without having a reasonable excuse.

 

What forms to file for an alleged contravention?

  • Application – Contravention
  • An Affidavit
  • A Certificate from a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (unless exempt to do so).

Sandy Chehade
Principal Lawyer
LLB, GDLP, LLM (Family)

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