What is joint legal custody?

Joint legal custody is a type of child custody arrangement in Florida. It is when both parents are given an equal say in making decisions for a child regarding important matters such as health care, schooling, and religion. It is different from joint physical custody which is when a child spends equal time living with both parents. In Florida, joint legal custody is the default setting for most cases unless one parent can prove that it is in the best interest of the child for them to have sole legal custody. This means that a court would need to be convinced that joint legal custody is not in the child’s best interest. It is possible for parents to come to an agreement themselves through mediation, or with the help of a lawyer, if they feel joint legal custody is not appropriate. Joint legal custody is thought to be the best option when both parents can cooperate and communicate in the child’s best interest. This can give a child the benefit of having their needs considered from both perspectives. However, it can be difficult for parents to agree on decisions and if one parent is not willing to cooperate then the other parent can become frustrated and it can create tension.

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What is joint legal custody?

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