Court order that sets out who should have responsibility for care of a child, who they should live with and how often they will see or have contact with each parent (see section 8 of the Children Act 1989, as amended by the Children and Families Act 2014).

Such an order is generally made where the parents cannot agree on how to share the care of a child or children. It must reflect the priority given to the welfare of the child under section 1 of the 1989 Act.