What is shared parental responsibility?
This principle provides that both parents have equal responsibility and input into their children’s lives even after a divorce. Shared parental responsibility does not necessarily mean that both parties will have equal amount of time with the child (that is often referred to as rotating or joint custody). back to top How does a court decide which parent will get custody of a child? When the parents cannot agree on a custody arrangement, the court will make that decision for them after considering the particular circumstances of those parties, with the overriding consideration being the child’s best interests. The things that the court considers when making this decision include: the child’s age; the child’s gender; the child’s physical and mental health; the parent’s physical and mental health; the parents’ lifestyles; any history of abuse; the emotional bonds between each parent and the child or children; the parents’ ability to give the child guidance; the parents’ ability to provide
