Legal Definitions - joint managing conservatorship

Joint managing conservatorship is a type of custody arrangement in which both parents share the responsibility for and authority over the child at all times, although one parent may exercise primary physical custody. This means that both parents have a say in important decisions about the child's upbringing, such as education, religion, and healthcare.

For example, if a couple gets divorced and they have a child, they may agree to joint managing conservatorship. This means that both parents will have equal say in decisions about the child's life, even if the child primarily lives with one parent.

Joint managing conservatorship is different from sole custody, in which one parent has full control and decision-making responsibility over the child. It is also different from split custody, in which one parent has custody of some children and the other parent has custody of the remaining children.

In most jurisdictions, there is a presumption that joint managing conservatorship is in the child's best interests, unless there is evidence that it would be harmful to the child. This is because it is generally believed that children benefit from having both parents involved in their lives.