Legal custody has to do with making decisions concerning their children, such as education, medical treatment and religious training. In California most parents are awarded Joint Legal Custody.

In California the court has the power to award "physical custody" to one or both parents. Physical custody determines where the child actually lives a majority of the time. It is common for the children to spend most of their time with a “custodial parent”. If the order does not specify joint physical custody the parent who does not have primary physical custody is usually granted "secondary physical custody" or visitation rights. 

The parent that does not have primary custody will usually have specified periods of time consisting of alternating weekends, one evening per night and one-half of the children's school vacations.