This term, however, has no specific, technical meaning unless a specific category of custody is addressed. Minnesota statute provides for two basic types of custody. In the context of family court proceedings, legal custody is the right to share information and input into major decisions in a minor child s life, including but not limited to medical, educational, and religious decisions. Input, however, is not the power to make decisions. Even parents without legal custody typically have the right to many more limited types of information.
Physical custody is command and control over the minor child s person and affairs.
Joint custody is a name sometimes given to a division of rights in either legal or physical custody which is somewhat equal. Joint legal custody. Joint legal custody is generally favored by the law. It allows each parent to share certain information to stay involved with major decisions. Joint physical custody.