Custody

Joint custody is also called shared custody.¹ With a joint custody order, both parents share legal and physical custody of the child.²

Joint legal custody is when you and the other parent share the rights and responsibilities to make major decisions affecting your child’s welfare.³

Joint physical custody is when you and the other parent share the physical care and supervision of your child. Your child has frequent and continuing contact with each of you as much as possible, although not necessarily for equal periods of time.¹ The child lives with each of you for a specified period of at least 30%, but no more than 70%, of the year.⁴

Note: If you have the child living with you for more than 70% of the year, that means you have primary physical custody.⁵

¹ AK ST § 25.20.060(c)
² Bell v. Bell, 794 P.2d 97, 99 (1990)
³ Bell v. Bell, 794 P.2d 97, 99 (1990), quoting 17 A.L.R.4th 1015 n. 1
⁴ AK R RCP Rule 90.3(f)(1)
⁵ AK R RCP Rule 90.3(f)(2)