Legal Question in Family Law in California

meanings of physical and legal custody

Physical custody means your son lives with you and you basically have the right to determine where he lives. You have the right and responsibility for his day-to-day physical care. Joint legal custody means that you and the boy's other parent both have the right to be involved in decisions regarding the boy's education, non-emergency health care and treatment, beginning or ending the practice of a religion, and other "Big Picture" issues in the boy's upbringing. One example might be his participation in extracurricular sports or other activities that are potentially dangerous.