What is joint legal custody?

Joint legal custody is a court-ordered arrangement in California in which both parents have a say in decisions related to the child’s welfare. This type of custody may also be referred to as “shared legal custody”. Under joint legal custody, both parents are responsible for making decisions related to the child’s education, religion, health care, and other important activities. The parents must work together to decide what is in the best interest of the child, and both parents must agree on the decisions that are made. Parents don’t necessarily have to live in the same home for a joint legal custody arrangement. In fact, it’s typical for parents to live separately and for the parent who does not live with the child to have visitation rights. Joint legal custody does not necessarily mean that the parents must share equal parenting time. The court may decide that one parent has the primary physical custody, meaning the child lives with that parent most of the time, while the other parent has visitation rights. However, the parents will still share legal custody and make joint decisions related to the child’s welfare. Joint legal custody is meant to give children the benefit of having both parents involved in their lives and making decisions that will benefit them in the long run. It’s important to note that joint legal custody does not prevent conflicts between parents, but it does provide a foundation for making decisions that are in the best interest of the child.

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