What is the difference between physical and legal custody?

In California, legal custody refers to the right to make important decisions about a child's welfare, including decisions about education, healthcare, and religion. Physical custody, on the other hand, refers to the right to have a child live with you and to make daily decisions about the child's care.

There are two types of legal custody in California: sole legal custody and joint legal custody. Sole legal custody means that one parent has the right to make important decisions about the child's welfare. Joint legal custody means that both parents have the right to make important decisions about the child's welfare and must consult with each other when making such decisions.

There are also two types of physical custody in California: sole physical custody and joint physical custody. Sole physical custody means that the child lives with one parent and the other parent has visitation rights. Joint physical custody means that the child lives with both parents on a more or less equal basis.

It's important to note that legal custody and physical custody are two separate issues, and a parent can have one type of custody and not the other. For example, a parent could have joint legal custody but sole physical custody, meaning that they have the right to make important decisions about the child's welfare but the child lives with them full-time.