[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/what-is-joint-custody\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/what-is-joint-custody\/","headline":"What is Joint Custody?","name":"What is Joint Custody?","description":"There are a lot of different terms describing\u00a0child custody\u00a0and people often have different opinions about what each term means. A parent will often call us and claim that they \u201cgot full custody.\u201d And then their friend really thinks that they really need full custody as well. But what does full custody really mean? Let\u2019s face […]","datePublished":"2022-07-01","dateModified":"2025-09-15","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/author\/james-kraayeveld\/#Person","name":"James Kraayeveld","url":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/author\/james-kraayeveld\/","identifier":29,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f327c36375f93cacc1f5818cbd6ca5f9c1c362ddf86682a8d1f0adac2b1f6198?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f327c36375f93cacc1f5818cbd6ca5f9c1c362ddf86682a8d1f0adac2b1f6198?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Kraayeveld Family Law","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Kraayeveld-Logo.svg","url":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Kraayeveld-Logo.svg","width":0,"height":0}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/cta-image-attorneys.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/cta-image-attorneys.jpg","width":454,"height":599},"url":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/what-is-joint-custody\/","about":["Custody"],"wordCount":453,"articleBody":"There are a lot of different terms describing\u00a0child custody\u00a0and people often have different opinions about what each term means. A parent will often call us and claim that they \u201cgot full custody.\u201d And then their friend really thinks that they really need full custody as well. But what does full custody really mean?Let\u2019s face it: how Michigan law describes each term is what matters and how the court orders spell out the\u00a0parenting time\u00a0specifics is what matters. Let\u2019s start with the most important part of this discussion first.Physical Child Custody Vs. Legal Child Custody and Other Custody TermsThere are two kinds of custody:\u00a0physical and legal. Physical custody is where the child is living; legal custody is a parent\u2019s right to make major decisions about their child\u2019s schooling and medical care. Whenever a judge orders custody, the order should address both kinds of custody.The next thing to consider is the terms joint custody, shared custody, primary custody, and sole custody. These terms are mostly self-explanatory. If you have joint or shared custody, you and the other parent share the custody \u2013 either physical or legal. Joint is usually understood as equal; shared does not necessarily mean equal. Often there is no difference between joint or shared.Shared Physical Custody ComplicationsWhat\u2019s complicated about having \u201cshared physical custody\u201d or \u201cjoint physical custody\u201d is that there is no mathematical formula for what joint means.\u00a0It does not automatically mean that parents who share physical custody have an exact equal amount of parenting time. Sometimes to make parents feel good about their custody order, a parent may receive joint physical custody, but only have 30% of the available parenting time.In other words, when you review your proposed custody order, get to the bottom line, and figure out if you agree with the parenting time that will be given to you.Joint legal custody is very common in Michigan even though not all parents actively make joint decisions.Final Important Things to Review in Your Child Custody OrderA final word of warning about custody orders, some court orders provide one parent with sole physical custody, but the order does not mention legal custody. If that\u2019s the case, then there is no automatic right for shared legal custody. Some orders use the words sole or primary physical custody, but there may be reasonable and liberal parenting time delineated for the non-custodial parent. The specifics rule, not the general titles. Again, read your order thoroughly and make sure that it addresses everything that is important to you. If you need additional assistance reach out to a Grand Rapids child custody attorney at 616-285-0808\u00a0or\u00a0online\u00a024\/7."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What is Joint Custody?","item":"https:\/\/www.kraayeveld.com\/blog\/what-is-joint-custody\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]