Joint Custody

What it means

A custody arrangement where both parents share legal authority over the child, parenting time, or both. Joint legal custody means both parents share major decisions about education, medical care, religion, and other important matters. Joint physical custody means the child spends substantial time with each parent. The split is not always 50-50; many joint physical arrangements look like a primary residence with one parent and a meaningful overnight schedule with the other. New York courts decide custody under the best-interest-of-the-child standard. Joint custody usually requires that the parents can communicate and cooperate. A history of domestic violence or extreme conflict often makes joint custody inappropriate. The court order spells out the schedule, decision-making authority, and dispute-resolution process.

When you might hear this

Joint custody is a custody arrangement where both parents share decision-making about the child, the time the child spends with each parent, or both. It can take many forms depending on the family and what the court finds is in the child's best interest.

What to ask