Where a child lives is one of the focal points of a physical child custody arrangement. When two parents get divorced, for example, they may then get joint custody of their child. The child will then with each parent at designated times, and they set up a schedule for exchanges – such as trading physical custody every other week.
But, while this is an important part of a child custody order, it is also important to remember that child custody can also address the legal ability that parents have to make decisions for their child. Legal custody rights are equally important, although they do not dictate a child’s living situation.
Key decisions parents need to make
If a parent has legal custody rights, it means they get to be involved in making decisions about things like:
- Where the child will go to school
- What type of medical care the child will receive
- What religion the child will be brought up in
Like physical custody rights, legal custody can be split in different ways. If one parent has sole legal custody rights, they could make a medical decision on their own, without consulting the other coparent. But if both parents have joint legal custody rights, then they have to work together, and they both have to approve critical decisions.
Resolving a child custody dispute
Shared authority sometimes leads to conflicts when both parents cannot agree, or when one alleges that the other violated their custody rights by making an important decision on their own. In these situations, it is crucial that coparents understand exactly what legal rights they are entitled to. Seeking legal guidance can help.
