Primary Placement of Minors

Primary placement refers to the child's habitual residence with one parent after a separation, ensuring logistical stability while maintaining shared custody.

What is Primary Placement?

Primary placement is the arrangement within a shared custody/glossary/shared-custody framework that establishes which of the two parents the child will habitually reside with and spend most of their time. It should not be confused with sole custody, as major decisions concerning the child remain the joint responsibility of both parents.

Context and Practical Application

In the context of single parent separations, this arrangement is adopted to provide the child with a stable point of reference and continuity in their daily routines school, sports, friendships. The parent with whom the child resides permanently is known as the custodial parent/glossary/custodial-parent, while the other parent retains visitation rights/glossary/visitation-rights according to a schedule set by the judge or agreed upon by the parties.

Impact on Housing and Support

The choice of primary placement also directly influences the assignment of the family home which usually goes to the custodial parent to protect the child and the determination of child support payments, which are calculated partly based on the time the child spends with each parent. In recent years, however, courts have increasingly favored, where possible, equal placement models to promote shared parenting.