What are “parental rights and responsibilities?” Is it the same as custody?
The Maine courts have replaced ‘custody’ with the phrase ‘parental rights and responsibilities.’ This term refers to the legal authority to care for a child and to make major decisions about the child’s life and wellbeing (i.e., where your child lives, his/her religious upbringing, healthcare, and education).1
1 M.R.S. 19-A § 1501(1)