Joint legal custody is a legal arrangement in which both parents share the right to make important decisions about their child's upbringing. This includes choices related to education, healthcare, and religious upbringing. The goal is to ensure that both parents remain actively involved in their child's life, even if they are separated or divorced. In joint legal custody, both parents must communicate and collaborate on significant matters affecting their child. This arrangement does not necessarily mean that the child lives with both parents equally; rather, it focuses on shared responsibility for decision-making. Family law often encourages joint legal custody to promote the child's best interests.