Shared Parenting is a parenting concept that allows two separate parents, living in separate homes, to co-parent a common child.  This arrangement most commonly occurs after divorce, but can be used by natural parents of a child that were never married.

Shared Parenting of a child has proven its benefits in many studies that show children that have both parents involved in their lives consistently have higher school test scores, are more likely to graduate from school, and demonstrate lower teen pregnancy and teen suicide.

Only the State of Iowa currently has 50/50 shared parenting laws that requires judges and parents begin custody considerations with a presumption of 50/50 time split amongst parents.