An order under the Children Act which settles the arrangements about with whom a child will live; residence orders can be split between parents (or others) or shared, e.g. in favour of a parent and step parent

An order under the law the Children Act 1989, settling the arrangements to be made as to the person with whom the child is to live. A residence order does not deprive either of the child's parents of parental responsibility for other aspects of the child's upbringing. In particular it does not deprive the non residence parent of the right to have a say in where the child will live.

A court order which specifies where and with whom a child is to live.