Physical custody: Physical custody is a residential concept-where does the child reside.
Legal custody: Legal custody involves decision making and knowledge about the health, education and welfare of a child.
Sole physical custody: The child resides with one parent and visits with the other parent.
Joint physical custody: The parents live separate from each other and the child resides with both parents. "Joint" does not necessarily mean "50/50".
Sole legal custody: One parent has the decision making authority regarding the health, education and welfare of a child.
Joint legal custody: Both parents have the right to be involved in the decision making regarding the health, education and welfare of a child.
Joint custody: This means that both parents have joint legal and joint physical custody of a child.
Sole custody: This means that one parent has the sole legal and sole physical custody of a child.
Temporary custody: A "temporary" custody order, as opposed to a "final" and/or "permanent" custody order is easier to modify or change.
Permanent custody: This order is harder to modify as the motion to modify requires proof of changed circumstances.
Final custody: This order is harder to modify as the motion to modify requires proof of changed circumstances.
Reasonable visitation rights: Visitation that is not specified by days or hours. A parent with "reasonable visitation rights" cannot look at a calendar and determine which days are his/hers for visitation with a child.
Specific visitation schedule: The days and times of visitation with a child are specified.
Parenting schedule: A timetable that specifies when the child is with each parent. |
