What is the difference between sole and shared custody of children?

The difference between sole and shared custody of children is largely determined by who is considered the “primary custodial parent.” In sole custody, only one parent is the custodial parent, and that parent has most of the legal rights for making decisions related to the child. The non-custodial parent will usually have visitation rights, but the custodial parent will have final say in matters such as education, medical care, religion, and other parenting decisions. In shared custody, both parents are considered custodial parents and split the rights and responsibilities for making decisions regarding the child. Both parents may have equal visitation rights and must agree on decisions related to the child. It is common for one parent to have the primary residence of the child, but each parent still has some level of control and responsibility in matters related to the child. The child support laws in North Carolina primarily focus on the primary custodial parent. The primary custodial parent is usually the parent who has the most amount of physical custody of the child and is responsible for the day-to-day duties of parenting. The court may order child support payments to the custodial parent from the non-custodial parent based on each parent’s income level. For shared custody cases, the court may modify the amount of support to be paid between the parents.

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What is the difference between sole and shared custody of children?

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