Legal Question in Family Law in Maryland

You have to file a petition in court asking for joint custody. Bear in mind there are 2 kinds of custody. Legal custody acknowledges the right of both parents to participate in meaningful decisions about the child, such as health, education, religion. Physical or residential custody determines where the child lives. You can have joint legal custody but agree that one parent shall have sole physical custody due to what's best for the child, with the other parent having visitation rights. Or you can have actual shared physical custody, with the child spending part of the time with each parent.