Joint legal custody

Joint custody means both parents have a say in decition making of their child(ren) and many times parents misuse the meaning to their advanage, as a power playagainst each other, and thats not what this is all about. When the child is taken to the EMG. Room then yes call the non-custodial parent, if the child is sick enought to be taken then the parent should know, at least call and give him/her the chance to come down if necassary. A child going to the doctor for a common cold, minor issues like shots ect, of course not. Decitions as in medical like a surgery that the child may need, or dental work like braces, if both parents are spliting the cost, and of course if one of the parents plan a vacation, things like this. The non-custodial parent needs to be told by the custodial parent thay he/she has every intent to comply with the court order concerning joint custody, so that the non-custodial parent will not be overly concerned, and be sure and tell the parent if the child is taken to ER, what I try to get parents to understand is, if each parent shows the same respect to each other as they want to be shown to their self, then everything will work out and everyone can be happy.