Legal custody of a child or children that is shared by both parents after divorce or separation. Joint custody is a form of child custody pursuant to which custody rights are awarded to both parents. Joint custody has two main forms: Joint physical custody: the child’s legal place of residence is recognized as the homes of both parents. Joint legal custody: both parents share decision-making rights for important decisions affecting their child; and in joint custody, both parents are custodial parents and neither parent is a non-custodial parent, or, in other words, the child has two custodial parents.