Joint Legal Custody

633 Words2 Pages

Divorce is extremely difficult and it becomes even more difficult when there are children involved. We all want what's best for our kids and that is why it is crucial to understand the different types of Child Custody and your rights and responsibilities in each case. Legal Custody Legal custody means having the right, responsibility and obligation to make important decisions such as schooling, medical care, religion etc about your childs future. In most cases joint legal custody is awarded to both parents meaning that they will share decision-making responsibilities. If joint legal custody is awarded, one parent may not be excluded from decision-making. If they are they may take their ex to court to enforce the custody order. If circumstances …show more content…

Joint custody can come in three forms: 1. Joint legal custody - where both parents share decision-making responsibilities for their children. 2. Joint physical custody - where children spend significant portions of time with both parents. 3. Joint legal and physical custody - where parents equally share in decision making and time with their kids. In joint legal and physical custody situations parents will decide how to split their childrens time between the two households. It is common for children to alternate or split weeks between each parent. Other arrangements could include alternating months, years or six-month periods or spending weekends and holidays with one parent while spending weekdays with the other. There is a lot of debate as to whether this type of joint custody is a good idea as it puts parents in a situation where they need to be able to communicate and get along really well in order to make decisions responsibly. In most cases this is difficult as parents who couldn't get along as a married are expected to make decisions together as if they were still married. Only in exceptional situations are ex partners able to put their personal differences aside and work together

Open Document