Alternating residence: the court examines it if asked, according to the child's welfare
Updated on October 24, 2026
Alternating residence is not an automatic right to half the time. When parental responsibility is joint, the Civil Code requires the court to examine alternating residence if the father, the mother or the child requests it. The court orders it only if it matches the child's welfare: age, distance between homes, the parents' ability to cooperate and stability. Joint responsibility can exist without alternating residence. Maintenance under article 285 remains due and takes account of the care actually provided.
What the code says
The public outline is on ch.ch, under family. The individual decision is in the judgment, not in a national average. One parent cannot impose a schedule by a simple message.