10/05/2026
What does “joint legal custody” actually mean in California?
Does every decision require both parents to agree? Who chooses the child’s school or doctor? What happens when one parent wants counseling and the other parent refuses?
The answer often depends on the exact language of the custody order.
Our newest article explains joint legal custody, medical and school decisions, therapy, what happens when parents reach an impasse, and when a court may give one parent final decision-making authority over a particular issue.
I also explain a concept I frequently use with clients: sometimes the court is not deciding the underlying medical decision—it is deciding who gets to make it. In other words, the court may have to “pick the picker.”
Read the full article:
What does “joint legal custody” actually mean in California?
Does every decision require both parents to agree? Who chooses the child’s school or doctor? What happens when one parent wants counseling and the other parent refuses?
The answer often depends on the exact language of the custody order.
Our newest article explains joint legal custody, medical and school decisions, therapy, what happens when parents reach an impasse, and when a court may give one parent final decision-making authority over a particular issue.
I also explain a concept I frequently use with clients: sometimes the court is not deciding the underlying medical decision—it is deciding who gets to make it. In other words, the court may have to “pick the picker.”
Read the full article:
https://www.edgarfamilylaw.com/blog/joint-legal-custody-california/