What is the difference between sole custody and joint custody?

Sole custody and joint custody are two types of child custody arrangements in Florida. Sole custody grants one parent the right to make all decisions regarding the child’s life such as education, healthcare, and welfare. The parent with sole custody, the custodial parent, is the parent with whom the child primarily resides. The other parent, the non-custodial parent, is usually granted visitation rights. Joint custody is when both parents share in the decisions concerning the child’s wellbeing. The child may live with one parent but spend equal amounts of time with each parent. Both parents participate in decisions regarding the child’s education, healthcare, and welfare. Joint custody can be granted in two different forms: either joint legal custody or joint physical custody. Joint legal custody means both parents have to jointly make decisions about their child’s upbringing. Joint physical custody means the child lives with both parents for equal amounts of time. Overall, the key difference between sole custody and joint custody lies in the degree of involvement each parent has in the child’s life. In sole custody, only one parent has the right to make decisions about the welfare of the child, while in joint custody both parents share responsibility for the child’s well-being. With joint custody, the child will often have two custodial households, giving the child the potential for a more balanced upbringing.

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What is the difference between sole custody and joint custody?

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