In California, legal and physical custody refers to distinct aspects of child custody. Legal custody pertains to a parent’s authority to make important decisions on behalf of their child, such as those related to education, healthcare, and religion. Joint legal custody means that both parents share this decision-making authority, whereas sole legal custody grants this authority to only one parent. Physical custody, on the other hand, concerns where the child resides. Joint physical custody allows the child to live with both parents, typically with a predetermined schedule, while sole physical custody means the child lives primarily with one parent, with the other parent usually having visitation rights.
To navigate the complexities of legal and physical custody in your case, contact Kendall Gkikas & Mitchell, LLP for expert legal advice and representation.
