Alternating custody can have two different meanings. It is typically used when parents take turns having

sole custody Sole custody is a child custody arrangement whereby only one parent has custody of a child. In the most common use of the term, sole custody refers to a context in which one parent has sole physical custody of a child. Types of custody Depending ...

of a child based on a regular schedule, while the non-custodial parent has visitation rights. For example, the father may have sole custody on odd years while mother has sole custody on even years. Also called ''divided custody'', this is a very rare type of

child custody Child custody is a legal term regarding '' guardianship'' which is used to describe the legal and practical relationship between a parent or guardian and a child in that person's care. Child custody consists of ''legal custody'', which is the righ ...

, typically utilized when the parents of a child live long distances away from each other. At other times, the term is used as a synonym for divided custody, a form of

joint physical custody Shared parenting, shared residence, joint residence, shared custody, joint physical custody, equal parenting time (EPT) is a child custody arrangement after divorce or separation, in which both parents share the responsibility of raising their ...

where the child lives approximately equal time with the two parent, for example with weekly or bi-weekly exchanges.

References

Juvenile law Relationship breakup Fathers' rights Mothers' rights {{parenting-stub

See also

References