This is true whether the court is ruling on a petition for divorce, or a petition for custody. A custody petition can ask a court to rule on custody, visitation, support, or any other issue pertaining to the parties child.
Physical custody addresses the child s physical residence.
Legal custody addresses a parent s right to participate in making decisions about the child s education, medical care, religion, etc. The court might consider the parent s qualifications, fitness, conduct, ability to control and direct the child, the health of the children when with the parent, the home environment, and the parent s involvement in the child s daily life. If the court decides that the child is mature enough, it may consider the child s preference. Usually a child is deemed mature at about 14 years. However, this depends on the child.