Parenting arrangements and child contact

Parenting arrangements are decisions about the care of children after separation.

Parenting arrangements can cover:

• where children live
• who children spend time with and communicate with
• school or childcare
• health and medical care
• religious and cultural practices
• financial support
• day-to-day and long-term decisions
• how disagreements will be managed
• how parents and other carers will communicate.

Parenting arrangements can also include other people who are important in a child's care, such as grandparents, step-parents and kinship carers. For more information, go to Caring for children when you are not their parent.

These situations can be difficult and stressful. Support and legal help are available if you need them. Go to Other support for parenting arrangements.

If you agree on parenting arrangements

If you agree on parenting arrangements, you can:

• get a consent order from the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
• make a written parenting plan
• make an informal agreement.

These options have different rules and different legal consequences. Go to If you agree on parenting arrangements to compare your options.

If possible, get legal advice, even if you all agree on what should happen.

If you disagree on parenting arrangements

If you cannot agree about arrangements for children, you can try family dispute resolution. A trained professional helps you discuss issues safely and try to reach an agreement. Go to Using family dispute resolution to learn more.

If family dispute resolution is not safe or suitable for your situation, you can apply to the court for a parenting order. This order can cover where children live, who they spend time with and other arrangements, such as schooling.

For more information about how to apply for parenting orders, go to If you disagree on parenting arrangements.

If there is a child protection case

If the children are involved in a child protection case because of neglect or child abuse concerns, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia cannot consider parenting arrangements until that case is finished. Child protection cases are heard in the Children's Court of Victoria.

Explore our publications

• You and family law
• Child support and the law
• Safe at home: how to get a family violence intervention order (English)

Explore our related pages

• If you agree on parenting arrangements
• If you disagree on parenting arrangements
• Caring for children when you are not their parent
• Supervised time between parents and children
• Moving or travelling with children
• Abduction
• Living with parenting arrangements

Support from other organisations

• Family Relationships Online provides information and help with relationship and separation issues, including arrangements for children. Go to Parenting agreements on their website or call their advice line on 1800 050 321.
• Services Australia’s Guide for newly separated parents has a helpful list of tasks you may want to do when going through a separation.
• Family Advocacy and Support Services offers specialist legal advice, safety planning, social support and referrals for families affected by family violence. Call (03) 8610 9803 and ask to speak to the FASS information referral officer.
• The Attorney-General’s Department has a handbook to help separated parents decide what arrangements are best for their children. Go to Parenting Orders: What You Need to Know. 
• If you need legal advice, you can find a private lawyer through the Law Institute of Victoria’s Legal Referral Service. Before hiring a private lawyer, see the Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner’s video and fact sheet about legal costs. Go to Six questions to ask about legal costs.