Legal Terms

Legal Custody: The rights and responsibilities of parents to make decisions relating to the health, education, and welfare of their children.

Joint Legal Custody: Both parents share in the right and responsibility to make decisions relating to the health, education, and welfare of their children.

Sole Legal Custody: One parent has the right and responsibility to make decisions relating to the health, education, and welfare of the children.

Physical Custody: How much time the children spend with each parent; where the children live; how day-to-day responsibilities are fulfilled.

Joint Physical Custody: Children spend a significant amount of time with each parent.