Joint physical custody refers to a legal arrangement in which two parents share physical time with their children between each other. This is unlike sole custody, where one parent retains full custodial rights, granting only visitation rights to the other parent. Joint physical custody involves more than just the physical locations where the child spends their time. It also refers to the sharing of parenting decisions. Some of these decisions include medical care, religious exposure or upbringing, education and the extracurricular activities the child engages in. While couples can decide how to award joint physical custody on their own, courts often become involved during divorce cases. If the courts must become involved in a joint physical custody case, they will listen to arguments on both sides before rendering a decision, always keeping the interests of the child at the forefront of their mind.