What is the difference between a sole and joint custody arrangement?

A sole custody arrangement means that only one parent is responsible for the care and decision making for the child. The parent with sole custody typically has the primary physical custody of the child and makes all decisions regarding the child’s education, medical care, religious upbringing, and other important aspects of the child’s life. The other parent may still have visitation rights with the child but will not be involved in decision-making for the child. A joint custody arrangement is when both parents are involved in making decisions for the child. When the parents are unable to make decisions mutually, they must go to court and work out a parenting plan. The court then decides the details of the custody arrangement, including how much time the child spends with each parent, who will make major decisions for the child, and how disputes between the parents shall be handled. In Massachusetts, joint legal custody is the default arrangement for families; if both parents agree to sole custody, they can submit a joint petition to the court for approval.

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What is the difference between a sole and joint custody arrangement?

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