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Legal Information: Iowa

Custody

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Updated: 
November 3, 2023

What is custody?

Custody or legal custody means a parent has legal rights and responsibilities for their child. These include making important life decisions about the child’s:

  • legal status;
  • medical care;
  • education;
  • extracurricular activities; and
  • religious instruction.1        

Joint legal custody means both parents have equal rights and responsibilities for their child. When parents have joint legal custody, they participate equally in making the important life decisions that affect the child.2 However, joint legal custody does not necessarily mean that the child will spend equal time with or live with both parents.

Sole legal custody is when one parent has the legal rights and responsibilities to make the important life decisions that affect the child.2 

1 IA ST § 598.1(5)
2 IA ST § 598.1(3)

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