In recent years, custody courts in the United States have begun to place greater emphasis on parenting arrangements that involve both the mother and the father. This approach is based on recent research that indicates that divorced children who continue to have frequent and meaningful interactions with both parents tend to be healthier, happier, and more well-adjusted. As a result, the popularity and frequency of joint custody arrangements has skyrocketed in recent years. Although the legal term joint custody indicates that both parents share legal and physical custody of the child, there are many different custody variations that can be used under this umbrella category. For example, alternating weekend visits, summertime visits, and one-week-on, one-week-off shared custody arrangements are all different types of joint custody arrangements. In most cases, the court will grant you and your former spouse some degree of latitude to develop a joint custody arrangement that will work well for both of you.