Custody--Legal

A legal status or "custodianship" vesting authority to approve all major decisions affecting a minor child. Chapter 208, Sec. 29 defines legal custody as follows:
"Sole Legal Custody," one parent shall have the right and responsibility to make make decisions regarding the child's welfare including matters of education, medical care and emotional, moral and religious development.
"Shared Legal Custody," continued mutual responsibility and involvement by both parents in major decisions regarding the child's welfare including matters of education, medical care, emotional, moral and religious development.
Sometimes separation agreements use terms such as joint legal custody, meaning shared legal custody.

A legal status or "custodianship" vesting authority to approve all major decisions affecting a minor child. "Joint " "split," and "shared" legal custody require both parents’ approval of all major decisions. In cases of child abuse, and in highly contested custody proceedings where the parties can’t communicate, sole legal custody may be granted to one parent, usually subject to visitation or supervised visitation. If parents with joint legal custody cannot agree about a major decision, then the court makes the decision. Courts often defer to the custodial parent, i.e., the parent with primary physical custody.