What is the definition of physical custody?
Physical custody refers to where a child lives and who has responsibility for supervising the child. When an award of joint physical custody is made, the child will live substantial amounts of time with each parent. California does not currently establish a preference or a presumption for or against joint custody arrangements. When sole physical custody is awarded to one parent the other parent is usually awarded visitation rights, unless it would not be in the “best interests of the child.” When the visiting parent could place the child’s safety or well-being at risk, the judge may order supervised visits. A judge may award sole physical custody to one parent, and joint legal custody to both. This means that the child will spend most of his or her time with one parent, and both parents will share in making important decisions about the child’s life.
