Types of Custody

There are two types of custody. Legal custody means the right to make decisions about a child’s welfare—for example, to decide where the child will go to school and what type of medical care is appropriate for the child. Physical custody is the right to have the child live with you.

Custody can be divided in different ways. If both parents spend significant time with the child and share decision-making responsibilities, they have joint legal and physical custody. It’s also possible for one parent to have sole physical custody while the parents share legal custody, or for one parent to have sole legal and physical custody. It all depends on the relationship between the parents, the child’s needs, and the overall circumstances.

Articles and FAQs About Types of Custody

Joint Child Custody: Do the Advantages Outweigh the Disadvantages?

Learn about the pros and cons of joint child custody, when it might—or might not—be the best choice for you and your children, and how to make shared parenting work.
International Child Custody Laws

This article provides an overview of the laws relating to international child abductions and move-away cases.
Child Custody in Mississippi

If you're a parent who's divorcing or splitting with your unmarried partner, child custody and visitation could be your most contentious issue. If you don’t familiarize yourself upfront with what’s involved, you might regret it.
Differences Between Legal and Physical Child Custody

What's the difference between legal and physical custody, and what do they look like?
Divorce and Co-Parenting: Is Birdnesting Right for You?

Some divorced parents are turning to a rare custody arrangement called birdnesting to ease the transition for their kids—but it requires serious coordination and emotional resilience. Could it be the gentlest way to split?

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