Cincinnati Family Law & Divorce Blog: What is the Difference Between Sole Custody and Shared Parenting?

In a divorce or dissolution involving minor children, or in the case of unmarried parents, the parties or the court must make a determination regarding the custody of the minor children. Custody can be allocated in two ways. First, one parent can be designated as the sole residential parent and legal custodian of the children. In this scenario, the custodial parent retains the right to make all major decisions regarding the children, including but not limited to educational, medical, religious and disciplinary issues. The non-custodial parent is still entitled to parenting time with the children, including regular parenting time, holidays and vacation time. Additionally the non-custodial parent is entitled to equal access to the children's school and medical records.   The alternative option is Shared Parenting. Under a Shared Parenting Plan, both parents are designated as the legal custodian and residential parents of the children. The most important factor to understand about...