How does legal custody differ from physical custody? Which custody arrangement are common and which are not?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Answer is Main points:
• Physical custody refers to who the child resides with.
• Legal custody refers to who makes important decisions with regard to the child (which school to attend, which religion to be brought up in, etc.).
• The most common physical custody arrangement is sole custody by the mother (68%-88%), less common is sole physical custody by the father (approximately 8%-14%), and the least common arrangement is equal sharing (2%-6%).
• Joint legal custody arrangements are common and have increased in recent decades.

How Does Legal Custody Differ from Physical Custody? Which Custody