Dear K L Lehmann,

I wish to appeal against the decision on 10 May 1999 to refuse legal aid
for Contact and Residence for my children.
 
 

Grounds of appeal

1/ Section 43(d) of the Family Law Act states that,
       "the Family Court shall, in the exercise of its jurisdiction under this Act, have
        regard to: the means available for assisting parties to a marriage to consider
        reconciliation or the improvement of their relationship to each other and to
        their children."

2/ Section 60B. (2) of the Family Law Act states that,
       "except when it is or would be contrary to a child's best interests:
        (a) children have the right to know and be cared for by both their parents,
        regardless of whether their parents are married, separated, have never married
        or have never lived together; and
        (b) children have a right of contact, on a regular basis, with both their parents
        and with other people significant to their care, welfare and development; and
        (c) parents share duties and responsibilities concerning the care, welfare and
        development of their children; and
        (d) parents should agree about the future parenting of their children."

 
3/ Section 68F(2)(a) of the Family Law Act states that,
       "in determining what is in the child's best interests, the court must consider:
        any wishes expressed by the child and any factors (such as the child's maturity
        or level of understanding) that the court thinks are relevant to the weight it should
        give to the child's wishes".
        The children in these proceedings have consistently expressed their wish to spend
        time with their father, and to visit their family in New Zealand.
 

                 Yours faithfully

                 Charles Richard Watson       <[email protected]>

                 LightHouse Inn, 1 Commercial Road, Port Adelaide, SA 5015

                 http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/7077/diary.html