What is the difference between joint and sole legal custody?

Joint legal custody and sole legal custody are two different types of child custody arrangements recognized in the state of New Mexico. When parents have joint legal custody of a child, it means that they have equal legal rights to make decisions about the child’s upbringing. This includes decisions about medical care, education, and religion. Parents with joint legal custody are expected to work together to make decisions that are in the best interest of their child. On the other hand, sole legal custody gives one parent the full right to make decisions about a child’s upbringing. The other parent may still have some say in decisions if the parents can agree, but the parent with legal custody has the final say in any case. This type of custody is often awarded in cases where one parent is deemed to be unfit to make decisions for their child, or if one parent is absent from the child’s life. In either case, both parents may have joint physical custody or one parent may have sole physical custody while the other retains visitation rights. Physical custody dictates where a child will live and with whom. It is important to note that even if one parent has sole physical custody, both parents still have legal rights and responsibilities to the child.

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What is the difference between joint and sole legal custody?

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