The term "50/50 joint custody" refers to each parent's decision-making and placement powers (Illinois calls these parental responsibilities and parenting time). According to Illinois law, it is preferable for parents to reach an agreement on a timetable. However, if required, the courts can apportion parenting time in the best interests of the kid. The court can also require one parent to provide transportation for visitation purposes. In order to avoid future disputes about custody or visitation, both parties should discuss their expectations with their attorneys before they sign any legal documents such as prenups or marriage contracts. If there are children from previous relationships or marriages, the parents should discuss how this will affect their shared custody arrangement so there are no misunderstandings later. For example, if one parent wants more time with their child but the other doesn't, it's important that both parties understand their rights and responsibilities under the current plan. Parents should remember that while joint custody is preferred, if one parent is acting in loco parentis (in the place of a parent), they have the right to make decisions about the child's care, education, religion, and activity outside of school hours as well as participate in major medical decisions. For example, let's say that Mary and John are married and have two kids: Charlie and Sally. Under normal circumstances, they would share equal time with their children and would negotiate changes to the schedule based on their mutual needs.