Essentially shared parenting refers to the time that is spent by a child with his/her respective parents. Where circumstances are right and it is in the best interests of a child a court can make an Order providing for the child to spend equal time with each of his/her parents. However when the circumstances are such that it is not in the best interests of the child to spend equal time with each of his/her parents then the court instead will consider whether the child should spend significant and substantial time with one parent.