Joint Physical Custody and Joint Legal Custody
What is joint child custody? How does it differ from other custody arrangements? Will it work for your situation?
These are just some of the questions parents have about joint custody. Many people have heard the term, but they are unfamiliar with the particulars. Here is some information about joint child custody so you can decide if it is right for your situation.
When people say joint custody they could be talking about joint legal custody or joint physical custody. In legal joint custody, the parents both have the legal authority to make decisions for their child. This includes decisions about where the child will go to school, what religion the child will participate in, the medical care the child gets, and other issues. Parents may choose to have joint legal custody without joint physical custody.
Physical joint custody focuses on the actual upbringing of the children. It means that both parents are spending time raising the kids. It also means that both parents provide homes for the children where they feel comfortable. The children usually spend equal amounts of time with each parent in this arrangement.
If you want both parents to be involved in raising the child then joint custody is a good option for you. In this arrangement it is important that the parents establish good habits of communication. Since the children stay with each parent, the parents need to be consistent about rules and other things.
Many courts are adopting more and more joint custody agreements. This is because they see the value of both parents staying in their children's lives. A joint child custody agreement may very well be in your child's best interest.