Each of the 50 states has individual laws as it comes to joint custody. Most courts prefer to award custody to a single parent rather than to both, as there is a perception that this provides greater stability for the child. However, 20% of all child custody cases result in a joint custody arrangement. These arrangements are often completed between parents who live close together in the same community, who have strong communication skills and who made a strong case to the family courts. Joint custody, also called shared custody, refers to a situation in where both parents share in all responsibilities related to raising a child. Shared custody refers to both legal and physical custody issues. Physical custody refers to where the child is physically raised, while legal custody refers to the ability to make education and legal decisions as they apply to the child.