Sole custody

Sole custody arrangements have generally been considered a traditional form of custody for many in the past, however there has been a trend since the 1980s towards joint custody arrangements being more favorable. Sole custody consists of an arrangement whereby only one parent has physical and legal custody of a child.

Other forms of custody

 * Alternating custody is an arrangement whereby the child/children live for an extended period of time with one parent, and then for a similar amount of time with the other parent. While the child/children are with the parent, that parent retains sole authority over the child/children.
 * Bird's nest custody is an arrangement whereby the parents go back and forth from a residence in which the child/children reside, placing the burden of upheaval and movement on the parents rather than the child/children.
 * Joint custody is an arrangement whereby both parents have legal custody and/or both parents have physical custody.
 * Split custody is an arrangement whereby one parent has full time custody over some children, and the other parent has full custody over the other children.
 * Third-party custody is an arrangement in whereby the children do not remain with either biological parent, and are placed under the custody of a third person.