Under what circumstances would a court change residency?

[HollyGoLoudly1]

This came up in conversation with a family member who is going through a very drawn out legal process to sort out access for his child. Has anyone had any experience of a court changing residency? How bad did the home situation have to be before this would be considered?

To be clear, he isn't trying to 'win' residency, however a lot of skeletons are coming out the closet and it made me wonder at what point would the court be willing to move children from one parent to another?

I didn't mean to put this in step parenting!

If you report your post yo can get it moved to a different section, OP.

Thanks!

We'll move it for you now, OP.

The courts are generally reluctant to change a child's residence. They have to be convinced that the potential upheaval of change is outweighed by the harm of leaving the child in the current environment. It can happen if the parent with care consistently obstructs contact or if the child is at risk of harm in some other way.

With older DC I would expect their wishes and reasoning come into it.

Yes at 13+ children tend to ge tmore of a say and it can be almost impossible to for a 15 year old to live with one parent when it wants the other.
Smaller ones and the status quo tends to be supported unless there is abuse. If a parent dies then obviously things change.