In the case of shared parenting, what percentage of time must each parent have custody to be considered shared?

In the context of shared parenting arrangements, the concept revolves around how equally responsibilities and time are split between parents post-separation or divorce. For a parenting regime to be classified as "shared parenting," commonly accepted practice stipulates that each parent should have roughly equal access to the children to ensure that both are fully involved in the children's lives.

Typically, this is recognized as each parent having custody or care of the child for at least 40% of the time. Such a division promotes the idea that both parents play significant roles in the child's upbringing and fosters continuity of relationships.

While specific laws and definitions may vary across jurisdictions, the standard benchmark of 40% reflects a substantive involvement from each parent that exceeds what would typically be seen in sole custody arrangements, where one parent has a significantly larger share of time. The recognition of shared parenting at this level also aligns with the growing educational and psychological consensus on the benefits of children maintaining strong, ongoing relationships with both parents.