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This definition applies to all payments.
Legal responsibility is the right to have and to make decisions concerning the day-to-day care welfare and development of a child. Both parents are legally responsible for their child, except where:
Example: Mr Brown and his ex-partner Ms Black have a court order which details the care arrangements of their children. The court order states that the children will have contact with their father on alternate weekends and half the school holidays as well as on Father's Day. The children are to have contact with their mother on Mother's Day. Legal responsibility for the children may be deemed to be joint as the court order does not specify otherwise.
When a person is granted sole custody of a child, then that person has the legal responsibility for the care, welfare and development of that child. The child is a dependent child (1.1.D.70) of that person, regardless of who has access to the child, if the child is in the person's care.
Act reference: SSAct section 5(2) Dependent child-under 16
Policy reference: SS Guide 1.1.C.380 Custody order, court order
FA Guide 1.1.P.17 Parental responsibility, 1.1.P.19 Parenting order, 1.1.P.20 Parenting plan, 1.1.P.21 Parenting plan (registered) _______________________________________________________
Last reviewed: 19 March 2010
