Parenting Arrangements
Gold Coast divorce lawyers that put your family first.
2026
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Parenting Arrangements Gold Coast
When parents separate or divorce, making decisions about their children’s future is often one of the most emotional and challenging aspects of the process. Parenting arrangements cover important matters such as where your children will live, how much time they will spend with each parent, schooling, healthcare, holidays, and other significant decisions affecting their wellbeing. Reaching an arrangement that works for your family can be difficult, particularly when communication has broken down.
At Collective Family Law Group on the Gold Coast, we provide practical legal advice in plain English to help you understand your rights and responsibilities under Australian family law. Whether you are negotiating parenting arrangements, formalising an agreement through Parenting Orders or Consent Orders, or resolving a dispute through the courts, our experienced family lawyers will guide you through every stage of the process.
Our focus is always on achieving parenting arrangements that are in your child’s best interests while helping parents reach practical, long-term solutions wherever possible. If an agreement cannot be reached, we can represent you throughout mediation, family dispute resolution, and court proceedings to protect your relationship with your children and work towards the best possible outcome for your family.
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Family Lawyers that help you navigate parenting arrangements and child custody on the Gold Coast.
At Collective Family Law Group on the Gold Coast the advice that we give clients is in relation to The Family Law Act 1975, which is ultimately focused to ensure the best interests of the children are met.
Before considering going to Court parties should attempt to reach an agreement through negotiations and mediation. If parenting arrangements can be made privately, Collective Family Law Group can then formalise the agreement reached with consent orders that are filed in the Family Court.
If a parenting arrangement can’t be reached between separated parents, our Gold Coast lawyers can advise you about the next possible steps. This advice will vary depending on your particular situation.
Meet Some Of Our Family Lawyers
Dannielle Young
Hayder Shkara
Ivy Lawrence
Compulsory family dispute resolution on the Gold Coast
Parenting arrangements decided by the parents are favoured by the legal system. Most parents are required to attend Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) and are further required to make a genuine attempt regarding child custody prior to making an application to the court. There are limited exceptions to this rule where parties do not have to attempt FDR prior to filing in court.
In our capacity as a children & family law firm, Collective Family Law Group on the Gold Coast can arrange private Family Dispute Resolution mediations for our clients.
After attempting FDR, if there remain outstanding issues, our family lawyers can further negotiate on your behalf or if it is necessary we can assist you in making an application to the court.
In the event that a parent relocates and takes the children without obtaining consent of the other parent or orders from the court, they can be ordered by the court for the children to be returned. This is where parenting arrangements can become complex and unfortunately the children are always in the middle.
Collective Family Law Group on the Gold Coast can assist you in any relocation matter that you may be facing.
Child custody and Child Support – know where you stand
Grandparents & other third parties – Get the right legal advice
Collective Family Law Group on the Gold Coast have a range of experience in representing grandparents and other third parties, to ensure they can spend time and communicate with their grandchildren following the separation of the child’s parents.
- Other Children’s matters we deal with include:
- Change of existing consent orders or parenting arrangements
- Relocation
- Travel arrangements for children
- Placing children on Airport Watch Lists
- Change of children’s names
- Same sex parenting arrangements
- Paternity disputes
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FAQs
What is the most common parenting arrangement?
- There is no single parenting arrangement that suits every family. The most common arrangements are those that best meet the child’s needs and circumstances. This may include equal shared care, where a child spends similar time with each parent, or arrangements where the child primarily lives with one parent and spends regular time with the other. Australian family law focuses on the child’s best interests rather than applying a standard or default schedule.
How do you co-parent in the same house?
- Co-parenting in the same house after separation can work if both parents establish clear boundaries, maintain respectful communication, and agree on responsibilities for the children. Consistent routines, shared expectations, and minimising conflict can help create a stable environment. If disagreements become difficult to manage, family dispute resolution or legal advice may help parents develop a more workable arrangement.
How much communication with an ex is too much when you have children?
- Communication should be limited to matters concerning your children’s care, wellbeing, education, health, and parenting arrangements. There is no set amount that is considered “too much,” but communication should remain respectful, child-focused, and practical. If discussions regularly become argumentative or unrelated to parenting, using written communication or parenting apps may help reduce conflict.
What is the 7-7-7 rule for parents?
- The 7-7-7 rule is an informal parenting schedule where a child spends seven consecutive days with one parent before spending the next seven days with the other. It is not a legal requirement or a standard arrangement under Australian family law. Whether this schedule is appropriate depends on factors such as the child’s age, schooling, routines, and the parents’ ability to cooperate. The best parenting arrangement is one that supports the child’s best interests and meets their individual needs.