When a Minnesota court makes child custody decisions, they must rule on two types of custody. Physical custody determines where a child spends his or her time, but legal custody determines who gets to make the decisions about the child’s upbringing. In almost all cases, legal custody is awarded jointly to both parents, even in cases where one parent is given primary physical custody. Legal custody allows a parent to decide issues such as:
Because parents generally share legal custody, these decisions are usually made jointly. When parents can’t decide, they can seek the help of the court. Even when one parent has full legal custody, a court can sometimes be petitioned to intervene in extreme circumstances.
If you and your child’s other parent are having trouble making decisions about the child’s upbringing, consult an experienced Minnesota legal custody attorney at Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A. today.