In a joint custody situation, both parents share the responsibility of caring for their children. This legal arrangement allows divorced spouses the opportunity to co-parent their child after a divorce. Parents work together to make decisions regarding the child's life, including medical decisions, extracurricular activities, religious practices, and the child's education. In a joint custody agreement, the child may primarily live with one parent, though the other parent shares custody. These agreements are often agreed upon with the help of a joint child custody lawyer. A formal parenting plan may be negotiated, with both parents agreeing to uphold the terms of the plan. A court of law may also have a say in a joint custody plan. If there is a history of abuse or neglect, a court may not grant such a plan.