Child Custody


Definition of Child Custody

Child custody refers to the practical and legal relationship between a parent and a child such as the right of a parent to have the child reside with him or her and the right to make decisions concerning the child’s welfare.



Child Custody Explained

The term child custody is mostly used in the narrative of divorce. The term is most commonly used refer to the right of a parent to keep a child with him or her which is only partially correct. Child custody can be broadly considered as a mix of two types of custody: physical custody and legal custody. Physical custody gives a parent the right to keep the child at their residence while legal custody gives a parent the right to make decisions regarding the child’s life such as education and medical care. Depending on the jurisdiction, different forms of child custody exist including sole custody and joint custody.