What does the ruling mean for the parents of separated children?

"The ruling is above all a path to equal rights," says Munich-based lawyer Andreas Vitti. After all, the majority of the 130,000 or so separated children still live with their mother. Now the parents can have an equal share in the upbringing.

Who is the new living model suitable for?

If the children live with their mother and father alternately every week, the parents should get on very well. And this is precisely where lawyer Hermann Messmer from Munich sees the problem: "Relationships often break down because of disputes about parenting. With the alternating model, however, parents often have to talk to each other more than before." The children should also be older. Up to the age of six, the children's bond with the main caregiver, usually the mother, is stronger. After that, the model can be useful, as both parents can show the child how important it is to them.

Is it good for children to have two homes?

There are two views on this. Some say it doesn't matter, as a child is at home where it feels safe - and can cope well with different rules. Others, such as parenting expert Mathias Voelchert, say: "The model is almost always to the detriment of the children. Because they have to pack their bags at the end of the week."

What should such a model look like in practice?

With the alternating model, the children really do have to be with each parent exactly 50 percent of the time. If one of the parents has one extra night with the child, he or she is considered a single parent and can claim full maintenance payments. It is also ideal if the parents do not live too far away from each other so that the child can attend school without any problems. The mother and father should also keep up to date at all times.