Which Address Does Your Child Use After Separation in England?

England · Checked 17 September 2026

School: check the admission rules

The council or school admission authority sets the address rules for applications. It may ask for evidence of where your child lives.

A shared-care schedule does not automatically mean either address can be used for a school place. The published admission rules explain how two-home situations are handled.

The doctor: keep care connected

A GP is the family doctor who provides routine care and helps arrange other treatment. GP registration has its own process. A child should not simply be assumed to have two ordinary registrations at different practices.

The NHS—the National Health Service—explains registration and temporary care. The practice can explain what is needed after a move.

Benefits: each service makes its own decision

Only one person can receive Child Benefit for the same child. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the tax authority, applies its rules if parents cannot agree who should claim.

Universal Credit also decides who is responsible for a child for benefit purposes. Equal nights do not automatically give both households the same child payment.

Your update checklist

• School contact details and any pending school application.
• GP registration and contact details.
• Child Benefit and Universal Credit, where relevant.
• Any court order affecting home, school or contact.

What an address does not change

Putting an address on a school or benefit record does not itself give one parent all the decision-making power. A disagreement about school or a move may still need a separate agreement or court decision.

This guide explains general rules and services. It does not assess your individual case.

Based on the original article by Elisabeth Scholander.