Custody

Custody is the legal responsibility for the care and control of your minor child. Generally, there are two types: legal and physical.¹

Legal custody is the right to make major decisions about your child. Generally, these decisions include:

• where your child goes to school,
• whether your child gets surgery, and
• what kind of religious training your child receives.

Physical custody is the actual physical possession and control of a child.² In other words, it covers who the child lives with on a day-to-day basis. Some types of responsibilities with physical custody include:

• making day-to-day minor decisions such as what your child eats, what time s/he goes to bed;
• feeding your child;
• bathing your child; and
• taking your child to doctor’s appointments, school, etc.

¹ OKLaw.org
² 43 O.S. § 551-102(14)