in divorce actions, a decision by the court (often upon agreement of the parents)
that the parents will share custody of a child. There are two types of custody,
physical and legal. Joint physical custody (instead of one parent having custody
with the other having visitation), does not mean exact division of time with each
parent, but can be based on reasonable time with each parent either specifically
spelled out (certain days, weeks, holidays, alternative periods) or based on stated
guidelines and shared payment of costs of raising the child. Joint legal custody
means that both parents can make decisions for the child, including medical treatment,
but where possible they should consult the other. Upon the death or disability of
either parent, legal custody will go to the remaining parent and will give the active
parent the sole ability to act as parent for the child without further order of
the court. The primary affect of this is a psychological benefit for the parent
and the child, so that a child can be told that both parents cared for the child,
even though the child had to live most of the time with one of them.
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