Petition · Ministry of Justice

Give parents who split up automatic 50/50 shared care of their children

Closed 388 signatures

What the petition asks

Parents should get 50/50 shared care of their children without lengthy court hearings if no safeguarding issues & both families can provide care. Currently I feel parents have to fight for more or any care, using time & money better spent on the children, negatively affecting the parent & children.
Children can often be left out of the process despite being old enough, with a right to be heard & can be affected when used without penalty by a parent to cause pain, misery & abuse for the other.

I think it's a more equal starting point & automatic 50/50 shared care could help remove the ability to use children this way & the upset & conflict it causes.

I think the system is full of disparity, inconsistent, unfair, archaic, sexist, often favouring mothers when both parents are equally good.

Timeline

18 Mar 2025 Petition opened for signatures
18 Sep 2025 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 388
Status Closed
Department Ministry of Justice
Opened 18 Mar 2025
Closed 18 Sep 2025

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 5 Aug 2026.