Fathers and mothers have equal rights when it comes to child custody in BC. That, however, does not always translate to 50/50 parenting arrangements. A parent’s rights tend to diminish rapidly if there are any question marks over the fitness of one parent to care for the child. In theory, a father has the same right as a mother to look after a child but arguments are often stacked against the father. If the father’s parenting skills cannot be called into question, the parenting arrangement should be as close as possible to 50/50. However, if a mother can show that the child’s best interests are served by spending more time with her than with the father, the court may agree. Despite equal rights, do not necessarily expect a 50/50 parenting arrangement unless you can show that it is in the best interests of the child.