Why 50:50 parenting doesn't necessarily mean no child maintenance

Increasingly, the children of separated or divorced parents spend equal amounts of time with each - a trend often seen as a positive reflection of modern parenting and one that supports children maintaining meaningful relationships with both parents post-separation. When an order, a parenting agreement, or the child maintenance service (CMS) refer to equal sharing of care, this is typically defined as a child spending 50% of the nights in a given year in the care of each parent. This is, however, a formulaic measure. Equal custody may result in unequal costs As a family lawyer, I fr...