Child Custody - Forms of Custody

Forms of Custody

• Alternating custody is an arrangement whereby the child/children live for an extended period of time with one parent, and then for a similar amount of time with the other parent. While the child/children are with the parent, that parent retains sole authority over the child/children.
• Shared custody is an arrangement whereby the child/children live for an extended period of time with one parent, and then for a similar amount of time with the other parent. Opposite to Alternating custody both parents retain authority over the child/children.
• Bird's nest custody is an arrangement whereby the parents go back and forth from a residence in which the child/children reside, placing the burden of upheaval and movement on the parents rather than the child/children.
• Joint custody (la garde conjointe in French)is an arrangement whereby both parents have legal custody and/or both parents have physical custody.
• Sole custody (la garde exclusive in French) is an arrangement whereby only one parent has physical and legal custody of a child.
• Split custody (la garde divisée in French) is an arrangement whereby one parent has full time custody over some children, and the other parent has full custody over the other children.
• Third-party custody is an arrangement in whereby the children do not remain with either biological parent, and are placed under the custody of a third person.