legal custody
nounUK /ˈliː.ɡəl ˈkʌs.tə.di/
US /ˈliː.ɡəl ˈkʌs.tə.di/
The right to make big decisions for a child, like where they go to school or which doctor they see.
After the divorce, both parents were given legal custody, so they decide together about their son's school.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The official power to make choices about a child's health, education, and religion.
The court granted her legal custody so she could sign the school forms.
3. A parent's lawful right to decide important matters in a child's life.
Legal custody lets him choose his daughter's doctor.
4. The part of custody that is about making decisions rather than where the child lives.
They share legal custody even though the kids live mostly with their mom.