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joint custody

American

noun

Law.

custody, as of a child whose parents are separated, in which two or more people share responsibility.

Etymology

Origin of joint custody

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

While some see the joint custody bill as a way to solve such controversies, not everyone is supportive of the revision.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

Though April and Hunter’s father had joint custody of Hunter, the boy spent most of his time at his mom’s house.

From Slate • Oct. 15, 2024

Dennis and the children’s father, former South Carolina state treasurer Ravenel, established a joint custody agreement in the fall of 2019.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2024

Until Friday, Japan was the only G7 country that did not recognise the legal concept of joint custody.

From BBC • May 17, 2024

Supporters of joint custody say it allows both divorced parents to play a role in child rearing.

From Seattle Times • May 17, 2024

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023