Under legal custody laws, the parent who receives this right is responsible for making virtually all decisions regarding the child's care and well-being. This includes all decisions regarding the Childs welfare, education, health and education. Even the child's religious upbringing goes in the hands of this parent. The other parent has no legal right to make decisions regarding the child. Legal custody often goes to a parent when the other parent is abusive, financially unable to provide for the child or emotionally unfit. In some situations, such as cases where one parent is absent from the child's life for any reason, a judge will name the other parent as legal custodian for legal documentation.