When a parent has sole legal custody, one parent has the right and responsibility to make all of the major decisions affecting the child’s life.

When parents have joint legal custody, the parents share the decision-making. The decision-making isn’t always shared equally - a judge can give one parent power to make certain decisions by herself while both parents have equal rights and responsibilities for other decisions.

Joint legal custody works best when both parents are able to put aside their differences and plan together for the welfare of the child. It is often very difficult to share these rights and responsibilities when one parent has abused the other.