Maryland courts address both the legal and physical custody of minor children. Parents who possess legal custody have the right and obligation to make long-range decisions involving major life and welfare issues, such as education, religion, discipline, and medical treatment.nnLegal custody can be held by a single parent or jointly. When a court awards joint legal custody, both parents have an equal voice in decision making. Maryland law presumes that both parents are the joint legal guardians of their children.nnParents often split decisions or expenses in this capacity. For example, a parent who is a doctor may handle all medical decisions for the children or help make medical decisions because of his or her expertise. A parent who is a teacher may agree to guide all educational decisions for the children, or the parents might agree to split all decisions equally.nnExpenses for the children can be split in a similar manner. The parent who insists that the girls play softball can agree to pay for the softball league registration, whereas the parent who wants the kids in dance can agree to pay for dance. It is best for parents to discuss these things and include these agreements in the divorce decree so that there is no confusion.nnPhysical custody, on the other hand, addresses where the children will actually reside, as well as which legal guardian will make the day to day decisions regarding the children’s daily activities. Physical custody can also be held by a single parent or jointly by both parents.nnIn joint or shared physical custody, the time children spend with each parent is shared. Shared physical custody is often not split equally between two parents. Common shared physical custody arrangements include children living with one parent during the school year and living with the other parent during summer vacation. Additionally, it could involve children living with one parent during the week and living with the other parent on the weekends.nnPhysical custody may also be split, which occurs when physical custody of one or more children is awarded to one parent, and the other parent receives physical custody of the other child or children. Even without physical custody, both parents have the right to access the educational, medical, and dental records of their children at any time.nnAnother split physical custody situation is called “nesting”, this is where the children live in just one home while the parents rotate in and out of the home. While this arrangement prevents excessive upheaval for the children, it can be difficult or expensive to manage for the parents.