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Children and parenting

This section looks at a range of topics about children and parenting. It includes information about parenting after a relationship has ended and caring for children when you are not their parent.

Child support

Parents are responsible for supporting their children. If you are together, separated or if you never lived together, your obligation to support your children continues.

See Child support and child maintenance.

Parenting arrangements

When a relationship ends, the court’s primary concern is making decisions in the children’s best interest. The main things the courts consider are:

  • the benefit of children having a meaningful relationship with both of their parents
  • protecting children from psychological and physical harm.

Other things that must be considered include relationships the children have with other people, including grandparents or other relatives.

See Parenting.

If children are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, the court must also consider their right to enjoy their own culture, including with others of the same cultural background.

See Children and Indigenous culture.

Moving with children

There are laws relating to moving your children to live:

  • an increased distance would greatly affect the time they spend with the other parent
  • interstate
  • overseas.

See Child relocation and abduction

More information

Relationship breakdown

Registering and changing names

Related publications

Child support and parentage testing

You and family law: a short guide

How we can help

Call Legal Help for free information over the phone about the law and how we can help you with your legal problem. You can speak to a legal information officer in English or ask for an interpreter. Phone (03) 9269 0120 or 1800 677 402 (country callers), Monday to Friday from 8.45 am to 5.15 pm.

Our other free legal services include:

  • free contravention workshops about how to prepare a contravention application and represent yourself if your former partner breaching (disobeying) court orders
  • legal advice at our offices and other locations across Victoria
  • lawyers who are on ‘duty’ to help at many courts and tribunals.

For some matters we can provide you with a lawyer to help you run your case.

To find out more about any of our legal services see What we do.