CHILD CUSTODY What types of custody orders can a judge make?
Joint custody is preferred and implies that both parents will share in making major decisions concerning the child’s upbringing. The usual arrangement is for the child to reside primarily with one parent (residential custody) and to spend time with the other parent on some weekends and overnights, extended summer visits and holidays. Joint custody does not pertain to the physical residence of the children. Shared physical custody, occurs when the child lives with both parents in equally or nearly equal blocks of time. Because shared physical custody requires parents to be extremely cooperative and is easiest when the parents live in close proximity to each other, many judges are reluctant to order it, but will frequently approve agreed shared physical custody. Sole custody means that one parent makes all the major decisions regarding the child’s upbringing and the child lives with that parent. The other parent may have specified visitation rights. Sole custody occurs when one parent is
