50/50 schedules can benefit a child because the child spends substantial time living with both parents. This allows him or her to build a close relationship with both parents, and to feel cared for by both parents. 50/50 schedules work best when: The parents live fairly close to each other, so exchanges are easier.

Joint custody is a specific type of custody arrangement where both co-parents share custody of their child. Visitation rights is a term that is usually used to describe a co-parent who is not awarded custody of the child in situations where joint custody is not awarded to both co-parents.

In general, the main point of joint custody is to provide both parents equal control over decisions regarding a child’s upbringing and to split the time that a child spends living with each of them. On the other hand, shared custody focuses on how much contact the child has with each parent.

Some parents question, “is joint custody good for the child?” One of the biggest disadvantages of joint custody is how stressful it is for children to constantly move from one parent’s house to the other. Some children have a hard time adjusting to the back and forth of joint custody.

Depending on a number of relevant factors, including the child’s maturity level, a child’s preference becomes more important by about age 12 to 13. By the time the child reaches 15 or 16, the court may end up granting custody based on the child’s wishes, within reason.

Joint Legal and Joint Physical. Joint physical custody usually works best when both parents live within the same city or region. Both parents make important decisions about the child and work together to decide on major issues, such as upbringing, religion, medical procedures and treatments, schooling, and more.

Here are three of the most common joint custody arrangements: 2-2-3 plan Monday and Tuesday with Mom, Wednesday and Thursday with Dad, Friday through Sunday with Mom. Then the schedule flips: Monday and Tuesday with Dad, etc.

In other words, it is possible for co-parents to share legal custody but not share physical custody.

If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. Shared custody, or joint custody, occurs when a court awards the care and guardianship of a child in a divorce to both parents.