Even as the paradigm of joint custody has emerged as the most popular option for divorcing parents, there remains a great deal of confusion over what exactly this type of arrangement entails. Specifically, there seems to be lingering confusion over the concepts of legal and physical custody. To make matters worse, custody decrees and other legal documents rarely include a clear and concise joint legal custody definition. Although there are some slight variations that impact the law in different jurisdictions, joint legal custody is typically defined as a situation in which both parents are afforded equal weight in the process of making decisions that will impact their child. However, even when a custody decree awards both parents joint legal custody, this has little or no bearing upon the living arrangements, visitation, and child support requirements that will be imposed. In essence, all that joint legal custody entails is the right to weigh in when it comes to making important decisions about your child.