Have your say on government e-petitions

Introduce a Presumption of Equal Parenting Time in Family Law

Submitted by Luke Brice on Friday 3rd October 2025

Published on Friday 28th November 2025

Current status: Open

Open until: Thursday 28th May 2026

Current Signatures: 352
(count is updated approximately hourly)

Relevant Departments

Tagged with

Benefits ~ Best Interests ~ Child ~ Children ~ conflict ~ Consistently ~ contact ~ Ensure ~ Equal ~ Improved ~ Law ~ mentalhealth ~ Parent ~ remain ~ Separate ~ Shared ~ Studies

Petition Action

Introduce a Presumption of Equal Parenting Time in Family Law

Petition Details

We want the Government to legislate to establish a presumption of equal parenting time following separation, unless there is clear evidence that it would not be in the child’s best interests. We think this would help ensure children maintain meaningful relationships with both parents.

Additional Information

Current family law does not presume equal contact when parents separate. This can result in one parent having significantly less contact, despite research showing that children benefit most when both parents remain involved. One analysis of 40 studies found children in equal parenting arrangements consistently have better mental health, stronger relationships with parents and improved academic performance. We think that even in high-conflict situations, shared parenting leads to better outcomes.


If you want to sign this petition (as opposed to merely discuss it), you need to do that on the government's e-Petitions website.

Sign this petition
at petition.parliament.uk

Have your say on this petition!

comments powered by Disqus

repetition.me is a Good Stuff website

216.73.217.17 Wed, 24 Jun 2026 18:33:36 +0100