Sole Custody Vs. Joint Legal Custody
Child custody refers to the physical and legal custody of a child. Physical custody gives the custodial parent the right to decide where the child lives and legal custody entitles the custodial parent to make decisions about the child's life. A court can grant either sole custody or joint custody.
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Custody
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State laws vary, but in most states, a court determines custody by ascertaining what is in the best interest of the child. A court may consider the age of the child, the mental and physical health of a parent, the attachment the child has to each parent and which parent the child requests to live with.
Sole Custody
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Sole custody is one parent's right to physical or legal custody of a child. If one parent has sole physical custody, the court will award the non-custodial parent visitation rights when appropriate. Courts often award sole physical and legal custody in situations where one parent may be harmful to the child.
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Joint Custody
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Joint custody allows both parents to make decisions jointly about the child. If a court orders shared physical custody, it often also orders shared legal custody. Joint custody may mean that the child lives with both parents by alternating weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or even yearly.
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