Closed petition Give parents who split up automatic equal shared custody of their children

Closed on 30 May 2024

We want the law to start from the assumption of equally shared custody, with each parent being given the option to negotiate down from this, depending on work commitments etc. I don’t believe in the current system that there is any gender equality.

It could help prevent missing valuable family time for children and parents. It could also help prevent upset for children, the parent with limited or no contact and their wider family too, as well as huge amounts of money parents could otherwise spend on their children.

I think that the system is archaic and sexist; it's too easy for one parent to prevent children seeing other parents equally, or at all. I believe this is often done to punish the other parent and/or for reasons other than what is in the child's best interests.