Joint custody is a
court order whereby
custody of a child is awarded to both parties. Many states recognize two forms of joint custody: joint
physical custody, and joint
legal custody. In joint physical custody, which is also known as
joint physical care, actual lodging and care of the child is shared according to a court-ordered custody schedule. In many cases, the term '
visitation' is no longer used in these circumstances. In joint legal custody, both parents share the ability to have access to educational, health, and other records, and have equal decision-making status where the welfare of the child is concerned. It is important to note that joint physical custody and joint legal custody are different aspects of custody, and determination is often made separately in many states' divorce courts. E.g., it is possible to have joint legal custody, but for one parent to have
primary physical custody.
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When both parents share custody of a child after a divorce. There are two kinds of custody: legal custody and physical custody. Either or both may be joint.