“Custody” is divided into two parts.
Legal custody is the ability to make decisions regarding the children beyond the “day to day” care. This includes doctor appointments, education decisions, extracurricular activities, etc.
Joint legal custody requires both parties to consult and attempt to come to a resolution regarding the legal decisions. Sole legal custody allows only one party to make these decisions.
“Physical care” is basically the amount of time a parent has the minor child, in the term of “overnight” visitations, and the maintenance of the residence for the minor child. This is often termed “physical custody.”
Shared physical care in Iowa essentially, and very basically, means the parties share equal time with the child (ren) and equal responsibility. In essence, it could be 182.5 days for each party, or it could be any amount of parenting time the parties agree upon.
Primary physical care, also known as “sole physical custody” means one party serves as the primary residence of the child(ren) and the other parent has some award of visitation with the child(ren), or possibly no visitation. An award of physical care does not affect either parent’s rights and/or responsibilities of legal care.