Parenting Consent Orders Example What They Cover And How They Work

Thank you for taking the initiative to read this blog!

We support your legal needs and give you the peace of mind you deserve.

Legal Practitioner Director - Rowena Ferrall
Fact Checked
April 30, 2026

This is Educational Content

This article provides general information only. It is not legal advice. Family law outcomes depend on your circumstances. You should speak with a family lawyer before making decisions about your matter.

People often look for a parenting consent orders example when organising parenting. They usually want an arrangement that’s:

Legally enforceable.
Relatively quick and affordable.
Flexibility to meet individual needs.

Parenting Consent Orders Preparation Checklist

'; var w=window.open('','_blank','width=800,height=900'); if(!w){alert('Please allow pop-ups to print this checklist.');return;} w.document.open(); w.document.write(html); w.document.close(); w.focus(); setTimeout(function(){w.print();},250); }); update(); })();

That sounds like a consent order. This guide aims to show how consent orders are put together. That can make it easier for you to put an arrangement into your own words. Consent orders may also avoid some of the delays that can come with contested proceedings. Going over some examples can make it easier to see what draft orders may look like and consider how they could fit your circumstances.

Key takeaways

Parents typically follow a similar set of steps to organise a consent order.
Consent orders cover various parenting matters.
Parenting consent orders can be altered in limited circumstances.
Considering some examples may be useful.
Consent orders and parenting plans have various similarities and differences.

What do parenting consent orders include?

Consent orders are generally cheaper than other legal options. They’re also often completed sooner. Litigation can take a long time and cost a lot of money. Parties may need to hire additional professionals, such as independent children’s lawyers and family consultants.

Most parents go through the same basic steps to create proposed consent orders. Here’s what the process generally entails:

Before applying to the Court for parenting orders, parents are generally required to attempt Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) and obtain a section 60I certificate from an accredited FDR practitioner. Exemptions may apply in cases involving family violence, child abuse, urgency, or where one party cannot effectively participate. More information is available on the FCFCOA pre-filing FDR page.
Parents often start by trying to reach agreement on what they want their co-parenting arrangement to be.
Once parents agree, they usually put the details in writing through a parenting plan.
It can be useful to have a family lawyer review the draft orders to check whether they are likely to meet the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) requirements. Free legal advice may also be available from a Legal Aid office or a community legal centre.
The application form is available on the FCFCOA website, and it helps to read the instructions carefully before filling it out.
Once the application is completed, parents may submit it electronically through the Commonwealth Courts Portal, along with any necessary supporting documents such as a Notice of child abuse, family violence or risk. A filing fee may apply, unless an exemption has been granted.
Processing times vary depending on the Court’s workload, and current timeframes can be checked on the FCFCOA website. Parties usually do not need to attend court for the application to be decided.

Consent orders usually account for two primary aspects of parenting:

Parental responsibility.
Living arrangements.

Parental responsibility

Parental responsibility refers to the major decisions that parents make for the long-term development of their children. This can include issues, such as:

Healthcare decisions.
Educational decisions.
Religious or cultural instruction.

Living arrangements

Parents decide where their children will spend time and who will be responsible for day-to-day care. This may include matters such as:

What days the child will spend with each parent.
Whether one parent will have primary care and the other parent will have scheduled visits.
What will happen during school holiday periods.
How the parents will handle special occasions like children’s birthdays.

Additional details

Many consent orders include other details to ensure that the orders adequately serve the parents’ purposes. These may include:

How the parents will communicate.
How disputes will be handled.
How much notice is required if one parent needs to temporarily change the agreement.
What will happen if one parent needs to relocate.

What's not included

Parenting orders won’t deal with financial issues. Property settlements and spousal maintenance may be handled through a separate property order. Child support is generally handled separately as well through an assessment with Services Australia, which is Australia’s child support agency.

Altering parenting orders

Court orders for parenting arrangements aren’t generally easy to change once they’re granted. However, the Family Law Act allows for alterations under section 65DAAA in the following circumstances:

The parents have agreed to the change.
There’s been a significant change in circumstances.
Altering the order would be in the child’s best interests.

Section 65DAAA was added to the Family Law Act through the Family Law Amendment Act 2023. It permits the Court to consider what’s in the child’s best interests by considering relevant factors, such as:

Why the original parenting order was granted and what material it was based on.
Any new material that’s available that was unavailable at the time the original parenting order was created.
The likelihood that a reconsideration would result in a new order that’s significantly different.
How the reconsideration would impact the child.

Parenting consent orders example

The following are hypothetical examples for illustration only. Names, dates and details are fictional and do not refer to any real person or proceeding.

Let’s go through some examples of what terms could be included, and how they might be worded. It’s important to make sure that the terms are unambiguous so that there’s no confusion about what’s expected of each party.

Parental responsibility examples

Parent A and Parent B will have joint decision-making responsibility regarding major long-term issues for the child John Smith, born 3 April 2015.
Parent A will have sole responsibility for all decisions regarding major long-term issues for the child, John Smith, born 3 April 2015.
Parent B will have sole responsibility for making decisions regarding the following major long-term issues:
- The child’s health.
- The child’s education.

Care arrangement examples

The child, John Smith, born 3 April 2015, will live with Parent A.
The child, John Smith, born 3 April 2015, will live with Parent B on alternating weekends.

Visitation examples

The child, John Smith, born 3 April 2015, will spend time with Parent B as follows:
- On alternating Saturdays from 9 am to 5 pm.
- The first week of each school holiday after each term. The time will begin at 9 am on the day after the last day of the school term.
- Alternate Christmas days starting from 2 pm on 24 December and ending at 9 am on 26 December.
- The child’s birthday on alternate years, from 9 am to 5 pm. This won’t apply if it lands on a school day.

Additional detail examples

Parent A and Parent B will use email as the primary source of communication.
Each parent must give 24 hours’ notice if they will be unavailable for a scheduled visit.
In the event of a dispute, each parent will inform the other party of their perspective in an email. If the dispute can’t be resolved, the parents will attend mediation with a provider agreed to by both parents.

Parenting plan versus consent orders

Parenting plans and consent orders can both be viable options under different circumstances. Here’s how they generally stack up:

Availability. Both are available to married couples and partners in a de facto relationship.
Enforceability. Consent orders typically offer more legal protection. They can be enforced in court if they’re breached. Parenting plans are informal written agreements. Parties usually can’t be legally compelled to follow them.
Scope. Parenting plans and consent orders have equivalent scope. Neither of them usually deals with financial support like child maintenance or other property matters.
Cost. Proposed orders have a filing fee that may be waived in some cases. Parties may also seek legal advice during the process.

From our clients

Rowena and her team at Ferrall & Co went above and beyond to help me achieve what no other firm I previously engaged were able to do. Not only that, it was achieved in a timely and cost-effective manner in comparison, with clear and effective guidance throughout. If you are looking for results based legal representation, and a firm that really cares about your situation, I would highly recommend. A+++

- J.W.

Conclusion

Consent orders are a popular option for parents who need a legally binding way to handle parenting matters. They offer certain potential benefits over options like litigation and parenting plans. A few parenting consent orders examples can give you a good idea of what the proposed orders may look like. That helps make applications more straightforward. You may also side-step some common mistakes.

Are you looking for legal advice on an application for consent orders?

Our team can assist with a range of family law matters. Contact us if you’re interested in setting up a free consultation.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It may not reflect current legal developments and is not tailored to your situation. As such, it should not be relied upon as a substitute for personalised legal guidance. Ferrall & Co Lawyers takes no responsibility for any loss or damage incurred due to reliance on this content. You should always seek independent legal advice appropriate to your circumstances before you make any legal or financial decisions.

Need help with family law matters?

Hi, we’re Ferrall & Co. Lawyers. With over 15 years of experience, we’re committed to fighting for your rights and guiding you through legal matters. Let us handle it for you.

Our Stats

Cases Won

0 %

Cases Dismissed

0 %

Years Experience

0 +

Trusted Clients

Rowena Ferrall is the principal lawyer of Ferrall & Co. Lawyers, which was established in 2017. The firm specialises in family law, domestic violence and criminal defence.

Rowena is licensed to practice in Queensland and the High Court of Australia. Her approach combines legal expertise with compassion, ensuring clients receive the right advice and emotional support. She’s an active member of several law associations and supports various charities. Contact Rowena for more information.

What Our Clients Say

Thanks Rowena, from Ferrall & Co Lawyers for your very knowledgeable friendly professional attitude to getting my case solved. Would highly recommend her to anyone needing legal advise or court representation.

Five stars for a five star company. Excellent staff and excellent legal advice. I would highly recommend them to you

I cannot recommend Rowena more highly! She is a caring lawyer that fights for her clients and she will ensure you get the best possible result. There is no one better! If you need legal assistance call Ferrall & Co Lawyers and you wont regret it. They will help you through the process making sure you feel supported every step of the way.

I can highly recommend Rowena Ferrall and her legal service to any prospective clients. Rowena's advice to me in my recent legal matter was concice, accurate and correct, it was also delivered in understandable English and not legalese. I have used several legal firms over the years, including some high profile legal practices, and Rowena was equal and better than them. I have all confidence in recommending this company to the public.

Rowena Ferrall has been my lawyer/legal representative for over 10 years. Rowena has represented me on many occasions, with outcomes that have met or exceeded my expectations. Personally I have always found Rowena to be approachable, honest and reliable. I highly recommend Rowena Ferrall, as I have in the past to my friends and family.

Contact Us.

Ready To Get Started?

When you’re in a difficult situation, Ferrall & Co. Lawyers have your back.

Parenting Consent Orders Example What They Cover And How They Work

Thank you for taking the initiative to read this blog!

This is Educational Content

Parenting Consent Orders Preparation Checklist

Key takeaways