There are two types of child custody in PA: legal custody and physical custody.
Legal custody of the child is shared by the parents in most cases. This means the parents will consult with each other regarding significant decisions for the child in areas such as health, education, and religion.
Physical custody of the child lies with the parent who is in possession of the child, called the “custodial parent.” The custodial parent makes all of the day-to-day decisions for the child.
In the absence of any problems such as domestic abuse, neglect, substance abuse, or mental health problems, parents usually have joint custody of their children. One parent may have primary physical custody, meaning the child lives with that parent most of the time, in which case the other parent will have partial physical custody.