What is meant by joint custody?
• Joint Legal Custody means both parents share all the important decision making rights and responsibilities and authority regarding the child’s health, education and welfare unless those decisions are allocated differently by order of the judge. By Statute, this is preferred. Joint Legal Custody requires the parents to confer with each other in exercising the decision-making. A “plan” for joint legal custody must be included in the Court order delineating how decisions will be shared. It should include provisions for dispute resolution, such as mediation. • Joint Physical Custody means both parents have significant periods of time during which a child resides with or in under his or her care and supervision. Joint Physical Custody must be shared in such a way as to assure the child of frequent and meaningful contact with both parents. Joint physical custody does not require equal sharing of time. • Sole Custody means one parent makes all the decisions regarding the child and the child
