What does "Joint Legal Custody" mean?

This means that you both have 50/50 rights and responsibilities. That includes the right to participate in major decisions for the kids upbringing like school, medical religion.

You have to make decisions together and you can't make a serious decision without the consent of the other parent.

Custodial parent deals with who the child physically lives with. They are two separate issues.

This can get a little out of hand. Alot of times the parents tend to not follow the rules of the court. Joint legal custody varies depending on the court order. The order can state that both parents will have the children each half of the year. That sometimes creates a promblem because of school. So they will sometimes just give one parent the kids though the school year and the other will have the children summers usally a week after school til a week before school starts. The parent with the children though the summer usally gets the children on week ends and every other Holiday. Both parents are to be responiable and consult with each other before making any major decitions regarding the children. Both parents should be on record at the childrens school so if one parent cannot be contacted the other can. Both parents can have medical on the children,however it is usally the father that carries the insurance, and the other parent the seconaly insurance,or vise versa depending on who makes the most money and has the benifits offered to them at their work. In an medical situration it is always best that both parents agree and make major decitions together. Presonnaly I believe if both parents work together that joint custody is the way to go for the sake of the children.