Benefit of Sole Custody. Physical custody can sometimes be referred to as "parenting time." One parent can have either sole legal custody or sole physical custody of a child. The court may order legal and physical custody in a number of ways. Whether it’s hard to get sole custody depends on the circumstances. If the Judge gives one parent sole legal custody, only one parent has the right to make major decisions for the child. There are two basic forms of custody in Indiana – legal custody and physical custody. Sole physical custody — A child lives with one parent and the other parent has reasonable parenting time, unless the court decides that parenting time wouldn't be in the child’s best interest. But a “sole” custody award means that … For that to happen, they need to also have sole legal custody. Generally, a parent who has a permanent order for sole physical custody (also called “primary physical custody”) can move away with the children unless the other parent can show that the move would harm the children. Whoever has physical custody, also known as residential custody, is responsible for the actual physical care and supervision of a child. Sole Custody. Parents can share physical custody, which means the children spend equal time with each parent. But it is not always clear whether a custody order is permanent or temporary, so what the law requires may be different in your case. Both legal and physical custody can be either shared by the parents or held solely by one parent. In a primary physical custody case, both parents may have rights to make decisions in regards to the children’s welfare, such as decisions relating to religion, medical care and education. This type of custody gives one parent the legal right to make all decisions regarding the children. 1. Shared physical custody — A child has periods when they live with each parent, so … A. An example of a joint custody arrangement is where one parent has the child 3 nights per week and the other parent has the child 4 nights per week. FATHER/MOTHER shall have SOLE LEGAL CUSTODY of the minor children: CHILD’S NAME, born CHILD’S DOB; and CHILD’S NAME, born CHILD’S DOB. Even though most children benefit from joint custody, some situations may warrant … First, there’s legal custody, which is about making major decisions for the child, and there’s physical custody, which is about how much time the child spends with each parent. Having sole physical custody does not give one parent the right to make all the decisions though. What is sole custody? Each parent will have access to the children’s school, medical, and dental records and the right to consult with those professionals providing services to the children. Physical custody refers to where the child(ren) are physically located. Sole Custody: Sole custody is where one parent has the exclusive right to have physical and legal custody of the children. Physical custody involves spending time with the child and making decisions about the child's everyday needs, including where the child lives. Essentially, a “joint” custody award means the parties will share custody to some degree. The benefit of sole physical and legal custody is that the child lives with you and you don't need to consult with the other parent to make important decisions about the child's life, such as educational, medical and religious choices. Physical custody means the right to have the child in your physical care, either all the time or part of the time. The courts seek to award custody based on the best interest of the child. 2. Courts generally won't hesitate to award sole physical custody to one parent if the other parent is deemed unfit -- for example, because of alcohol or drug dependency or charges of child abuse or neglect. 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