成功案例分享：孩子爸爸消失、护照无法更新？我们成功为单亲妈妈争取唯一父母责任权（Sole Parental Responsibility）
前情提要
客户小W是一位在澳洲生活的华人女性，几年前她与一位男子建立了事实婚姻关系（de facto relationship），并在不久后怀孕生子。然而，孩子出生不久后，该男子便彻底消失，手机、微信、邮箱全部失联，唯一所知的男方朋友也已失去联系，无法继续提供线索。
几年过去，孩子的护照即将过期。按照澳洲护照申请规定，未成年孩子在更新护照时通常需要父母双方的签名授权。但在父亲完全无法联系的情况下，小W陷入了困境——如果无法更新护照，孩子将面临诸多限制，包括无法出入境、无法处理身份事务等。
案件拆解：为什么单亲妈妈不能直接为孩子更新护照？
根据澳洲内政部规定，未满18岁的未成年人在申请或更新护照时，需获得父母双方的书面同意。如果另一方失联或拒绝配合，护照办公室通常会要求申请人出示法院命令，证明其有独立作出决定的法定权利。
这种情况下，向家庭法院申请唯一父母责任权（Sole Parental Responsibility）成为决定性的一步，从而让申请人有权单独为孩子作出法律决定——包括申请护照。
我们如何帮助客户解决问题？
关键一：建立“失联”事实
我们协助小W整理所有相关记录，包括她尝试联络孩子父亲的通讯截图、对方社交账号停用记录、共友无法提供线索的记录等等，全面证明父亲已无从联络。
关键二：申请 Sole Parental Responsibility 命令
我们为小W准备了详尽的法庭申请文件，向联邦巡回与家庭法院（Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia）申请 sole parenting orders，主张此举符合孩子的最佳利益。
关键三：成功获批，解决护照问题
最终，法院支持我们的申请，正式授予小W对孩子的唯一父母责任权，使她得以合法地单独为孩子的一切做决定，包括但不限于申请和更新护照，彻底解除了限制。
律师小科普：什么是 Sole Parental Responsibility？
在澳洲《家庭法》（Family Law Act 1975（Cth））下，法院通常倾向于父母共同承担责任（equal shared parental responsibility），在极少数情况下可授予其中一方Sole Parental Responsibility（唯一父母责任权）：
🔸 家庭暴力或虐待：一方存在对孩子或另一方的安全威胁；
🔸 一方下落不明或无法联系：如本案所示，父亲完全失联；
🔸 符合孩子最大利益：一方长期缺席或不承担父母责任，在法院判定唯一父母责任权符合孩子最佳利益后亦可裁定。
⚠️ 需注意：法院不会轻易做出该命令，必须提交充分证据说明此举符合孩子的最佳利益，否则申请很大可能被驳回。
法律，是孩子通往未来的钥匙
每一个孩子都值得拥有稳定的法律身份与受保障的权利。
如果你是一位单亲家长，正因另一方失联或不配合而遇到实际困难，请记住：
你不是一个人。法律，会站在你这一边。
欢迎联系我们的家庭法律团队，我们将协助你一步步捋清问题，争取你与孩子应有的法律保障。
A Missing Father Didn’t Stop Her — We Helped a Single Mother Obtain Sole Parental Responsibility and Renew Her Child’s Passport
Background Story
Our client, Ms. W, is a Chinese national residing in Australia. After a brief relationship, she entered a de facto relationship with a man and gave birth to their child. Unfortunately, shortly after the child was born, the father disappeared completely.
He could no longer be reached — his phone number was deactivated, his WeChat and email accounts were inactive, and the only friend Ms. W knew he had in Australia had moved away. Despite all efforts, Ms. W was unable to locate him.
Years passed, and her child’s passport was due to expire. Under Australian passport regulations, renewing a passport for a child under 18 typically requires the signatures of both parents. With the father entirely unreachable, Ms. W could not proceed with the renewal.
Faced with the risk of her child losing access to essential identification and travel documents, she sought legal advice from our team.
Our Role: Turning Legal Barriers into Practical Solutions
When Ms. W came to us, she was unsure how to move forward. She knew she couldn’t locate the child’s father — but what legal options did she have?
Our family law team provided clear, strategic guidance based on the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) and current passport application laws. Here’s how we assisted:
Step 1: Establishing the Father’s Unavailability
We worked with Ms. W to gather all available evidence demonstrating the father’s disappearance, including communication logs, deactivated accounts, and information about his last known contact — all of which supported the fact that he disappeared and could not be involved in parenting decisions.
Step 2: Applying for Sole Parental Responsibility
We prepared a court application and filed it with the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, seeking an order granting Ms. W sole parental responsibility. This would allow her to make major decisions for her child — including renewing the passport — without requiring the father’s consent.
Step 3: Court Approval and Resolution
The Court accepted our submissions and granted the requested order. With this court order in hand, Ms. W was able to successfully renew her child’s passport using her signature alone — legally and without further delay.
Legal Insight: What Happens to a Partner Visa After Family Violence?
Under the Family Law Act 1975, both parents are presumed to share parental responsibility, meaning they must jointly make decisions about major aspects of a child’s life — including education, health, religion, and travel.
However, the Court may grant sole parental responsibility to one parent in specific circumstances, such as:
- Family violenceor risk of harm to the child
- Disappeared parent, as in Ms. W’s case
- Best interests of the child, where granting sole responsibility is necessary for the child’s stability and welfare
⚠️ Courts are generally cautious when granting sole parental responsibility. Applicants must provide clear and compelling evidence that it is in the child’s best interests.
You’re Not Alone — And the Law Is On Your Side
If you’re a single parent facing legal or logistical challenges due to an absent or uncooperative co-parent, know that there are legal solutions available — and you don’t have to navigate them alone.
You have rights. Your child has protections. And we are here to help.
Our experienced family law team is committed to guiding parents through complex matters with care, efficiency, and a deep understanding of your needs.
