Building a house upon sand: post-separation parenting, shared residence and equality - lessons from Sweden [2011] CFLQ 344

Based on a comparative study between the UK and Sweden, this article seeks to sound a strong cautionary note against any proposed legislative entrenchment of shared 50:50 residence as the preferred model for post-separation parenting in the UK. It is argued that pre- and post-separation patterns of parenting cannot be considered in isolation, and discernible trends within the UK towards a greater use of shared residence on divorce/separation should be resisted until more is done to promote and support equal co-parenting within the intact family - an area where UK policy remains notably weak.