Joint custody

Short description: Court order whereby custody of a child is awarded to both parties

Template:Family law

Joint custody is a form of child custody pursuant to which custody rights are awarded to both parents.[1] Joint custody may refer to joint physical custody, joint legal custody, or both combined.

In joint legal custody, both parents of a child share major decision making regarding for example education, medical care and religious upbringing. In joint physical custody, also called shared parenting or shared residency, the child spends equal or close to equal amount of time with both parents.

After a divorce or separation, parents may have joint physical custody as well as joint legal custody of their children, or commonly, they may have joint legal custody while one parent has sole physical custody, or rarely, they may have joint physical custody while one parent have sole legal custody.[2]

The opposite of joint physical custody is sole custody, where one parent has full parental control and decision-making authority, while the other parent may have visitation rights to regularly see their child. Joint physical custody is different from split custody, where some siblings live with one parent while other siblings live with the other parent.[1]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Definitions
* 2.1 Joint legal custody
* 2.2 Joint physical custody
* 3 Worldwide
* 3.1 Japan
* 3.2 Spain
* 3.3 United Kingdom
* 3.4 United States
* 4 References
* 5 See also

## History

The concept of a child did not exist until Jean-Jacques Rousseau proposed the concept of a child. Children were considered small adults and were treated like adults around the age of 7.[3] Also, in ancient times, it was customary for the mother to have custody of a young child until the child reached the age of 7.[4] In the 19th century, parental authority was generally given to the mother, unless the court found the mother to be an ineligible parent.[5]

## Definitions

While terminology used may vary, joint custody breaks down into two broad categories. Joint physical custody involves a parenting arrangement in which a child spends substantial time residing with each parent, though time need not be equal. Joint legal custody involves shared authority for important decisions pertaining to a child, such as education, medical care, and religious upbringing..

### Joint legal custody

In joint legal custody, both parents share decision-making rights with regard to matters that may have a significant impact on their children's lives, such as where a child should attend school, the choice of a primary care physician or therapist for the child, and medical treatments.[6] Both parents also have the ability right access to their children's records, such as educational records, health records, and other records.[7] Under sole physical custody arrangements, joint legal custody has been found to have beneficial effects on children compared to sole legal custody.[8]

### Joint physical custody

Main article: Social:Shared parenting

In joint physical custody, the child lives an equal amount of time with both parents or for considerable amount of time with each parent.[9] Typically, the family court issues a parenting schedule that defines the time that the child will spend with each parent.[10]

The percentage of joint physical versus sole physical custody varies between countries. In a comparative survey from 2005/06, covering children ages 11 to 15, it was highest in Sweden with 17% and lowest in Turkey and Ukraine with only 1%.[11]

Studies suggest that joint custody may significantly contribute to a child's wellbeing, with lower rates of mental health issues and substance abuse, better school performance, better physical health and better family relationships as compared to children in households where one parent has sole physical custody.[12] On the whole, studies show that children experience better outcomes in joint custody arrangements and where they have good access to both parents.[13] While not all studies of joint custody have resulted in similar findings, none have found that harm results from joint custody.[12]

## Worldwide

### Japan

See also: International child abduction in Japan

Joint custody was not legally recognized in Japan[14] until 2024, when a new law was passed introducing that concept, to be applied from 2026.[15][16][17][18] Japanese courts favor granting custody to a primary caregiver,[19] and nearly always award custody to the parent who is in possession of the children, even in the aftermath of parental kidnapping.[15][20] It is estimated that one in three children in Japan, after divorce, loose contact with the non-custodial parent, a much higher proportion than in most other countries.[18] The law traditionally favored men, although in recent decades in practice it ended up favoring women.[15]

Many Japanese parents believe that recognition of joint custody rights will reduce the problem of parental kidnapping and improve parent-child relationships following a custody case;[20] however others have been concerned that the law will allow abusive parents to remain in contact with their former spouse and the child, and the reform has also been controversial.[18] According to the new law, if one parent refuses the joint custody that the other is asking for, the court will decide the outcome.[21][17]

### Spain

Main article: Social:Joint custody (Spain)

In a 2005/06 survey, about 6 percent of Spanish children ages 11 to 15 lived in a joint physical custody arrangement versus sole physical custody.[11]

Joint physical custody was introduced into Spanish law in 2005, subject to agreement by both parents. Some regions, such as Aragon and Catalonia, have subsequently passed laws that makes it the preferred option.[22]

### United Kingdom

Main article: Social:Shared residency in England

In the United Kingdom in 2005/06, about 7 percent of 11-15 year old children lived in a joint physical versus sole physical custody arrangement.[11]

### United States

In the United States, both joint physical and joint legal custody are common. Between 1985 and 2014, custody arrangements involving joint physical custody grew from approximately 13% to 34%,[23] and has since become commonplace.[24] As of 2017, approximately 30.6 percent of noncustodial parents had some type of joint-custody arrangement.[25]

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Black, Henry Campbell; Garner, Bryan Andrew (2009). Black's law dictionary (9th ed.). St. Paul, Minn: West. p. 442. ISBN 978-0314199492.
2. ↑ Perea, Jose; Kruk, Edward, eds (2021). The Routledge international handbook of shared parenting and best interest of the child (Margarita ed.). Abingdon, Oxon New York, NY: Routledge. pp. Ortiz-Tallo. ISBN 9781003140566.
3. ↑ Folberg,Jay (1960). L'Enfant et lah Vie familiale sous l' Ancien Regime. Pron, Livres Vintage.
4. ↑ Ernest Belfort Bax (1908). The legal subjection of men. London: The New Age Press. OCLC 875136389. http://www.menstribune.com/Belfort_Bax.html.
* Reprinted as Bax, E. Belfort (2015). The legal subjection of men (classic reprint). London: Forgotten Books. ISBN 9781330657508.
5. ↑ .Maternal Preference in 19th Century American Law
6. ↑ See, e.g., "Basics of Custody & Visitation Orders". http://www.courts.ca.gov/17975.htm. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
7. ↑ Robert E. Emery (1999). Marriage, Divorce, and Children's Adjustment. SAGE. pp. 79–124. ISBN 978-0-7619-0252-2. https://books.google.com/books?id=S_O6ZReudfQC&pg=PA79. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
8. ↑ Gunnoe ML, Braver SL. The effects of joint legal custody on mothers, fathers, and children, controlling for factors that predispose a sole maternal vs. joint legal award. Law and Human Behavior, 2001, 25:25–43.
9. ↑ Kaplan PMBR (7 July 2009). Kaplan PMBR FINALS: Family Law: Core Concepts and Key Questions. Kaplan Publishing. pp. 22–23. ISBN 978-1-60714-098-6. https://books.google.com/books?id=vzevfXoDc4MC. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
10. ↑ See, e.g., Oregon State Legislature (1997). "ORS 107.102 Parenting plan". https://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/107.102. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Bjarnason T, Arnarsson AA. Joint Physical Custody and Communication with Parents: A Cross-National Study of Children in 36 Western Countries , Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 2011, 42:871-890.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Braver, Sanford L.; Lamb, Michael E. (10 April 2018). "Shared Parenting After Parental Separation: The Views of 12 Experts". Journal of Divorce & Remarriage 59 (5): 372–387. doi:10.1080/10502556.2018.1454195.
13. ↑ Baude, Amandine; Pearson, Jessica; Drapeau, Sylvie (27 June 2016). "Child Adjustment in Joint Physical Custody Versus Sole Custody: A Meta-Analytic Review". Journal of Divorce & Remarriage 57 (5): 338–360. doi:10.1080/10502556.2016.1185203.
14. ↑ "As Japan moves toward recognizing joint custody, a father nourishes hope for reunion". 8 August 2013. http://www.japansubculture.com/as-japan-moves-toward-recognizing-joint-custody-a-father-nourishes-hope-for-reunion/. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "'My ex took my children': Hope for divorced parents as Japan to allow joint child custody" (in en-GB). BBC. 2024-05-17. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-69025215.
16. ↑ "Japan passes revised law allowing joint child custody for divorced parents" (in en-US). The Asahi Shimbun. https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15270987#:~:text=Japan's parliament on Friday passed,to take effect by 2026..
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Japan introduces joint parental custody, a principle far from unanimously accepted in the archipelago" (in en). Le Monde. 2024-05-23. https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/05/23/japan-introduces-joint-parental-custody-a-principle-far-from-unanimously-accepted-in-the-archipelago_6672388_4.html.
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Quashie, Jeanne-Marie (2024-09-03). "Japanese Civil Code reform: A controversial debate on joint custody" (in en-GB). https://www.humanium.org/en/japanese-civil-code-reform-a-controversial-debate-on-joint-custody/.
19. ↑ Matsutani, Minoru (10 October 2009). "Custody laws force parents to extremes". The Japan Times. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2009/10/10/national/custody-laws-force-parents-to-extremes/#.WdJhCYopAUE. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Kikuchi, Daisuke (5 May 2017). "Parental abduction victims hold rally to push for joint custody rights". The Japan Times. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/05/05/national/social-issues/parental-abduction-victims-hold-rally-push-joint-custody-rights/#.WdJhCYopAUE. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
21. ↑ Masako, OHNO; Reporter; Department, Tokyo Shimbun Political (2024-08-07). "Introduction of Joint Custody: The Background to the Quick Passage of the Revised Civil Code - Discuss Japan". https://www.japanpolicyforum.jp/society/pt2024080709180714546.html.
22. ↑ Lendoiro, Gema (28 February 2015). "Todo lo que debes saber sobre la custodia compartida" (in es-ES). Diario ABC. http://www.abc.es/familia-parejas/20150228/abci-cuatodia-compartida-matrimonio-201502271351.html.
23. ↑ Meyer, Daniel R.; Carlson, Marcia; Alam, Md Moshi Ul (22 June 2022). "Increases in shared custody after divorce in the United States". Demographic Research 46: 1137–1162. doi:10.4054/DemRes.2022.46.38.
24. ↑ Riser, Quentin H. (December 2025). "Joint Physical Custody and Children’s Physical and Mental Health". Child & Youth Care Forum 54 (6): 1305–1335. doi:10.1007/s10566-025-09863-7.
25. ↑ Grall, Timothy. "Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support: 2017". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/demo/p60-269.pdf.

## See also

* Best interests
* Child custody
* Coparenting
* Divorce
* Family law
* Family court
* Joint custody (Spain)
* Joint custody (United States)
* Legal custody
* Parens patriae
* Parenting plan
* Shared residency in England
* Shared parenting
* Ward of the state

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