Hi
My ex and I have been 50/50 via private arrangement for about a year now. It's worked, but relations are still frosty between us and my belief is my child is better-off living with me full-time with every other weekend with their other parent.
The other parent argues that they're providing a home (they bought a little house this year 15mins drive away from childs school - I am a 5min walk), works flexibly from home and fulfils every need.
I am unemployed (freelancing) and can provide more time for the child. I think the child likes it at his other parent's, but my home has siblings (with different partners), more rooms, larger garden, closer to friends and is generally better for the child. Our child appears to find moving between two different home cultures difficult. In general, our child has found comprehending having two homes and two families instead of one difficult.
I chose to express my wishes through a mediator. A mediator recently deemed after an MIAM that we are not suitable for mediation and signed a C100. I am now taking the other parent to court for a residence order to which they have shown dismay.
What are my chances of success? I feel I am acting in the best interests of my child. I don't feel there is any value in discussing changing the arrangement as the other parent is just going to refuse to reduce access so I feel that court is the only option. 🤔