custody

Legal Definition of custody

Noun

1. Means the charge and control of a child including the right to make all major decisions such as education, religious upbringing, training, health and welfare. Custody, without qualification usually refers to a combination of physical custody and legal custody. For other varieties of custody, see joint custody, split custody and divided custody.

Derived terms

• child custody
• joint custody
• legal custody
• physical custody
• split custody
• maternal custody
• paternal custody
• sole custody
• police custody

Definition of custody

Etymology

From Latin custodia ("a keeping, watch, guard, prison") < custos ("a keeper, watchman, guard").

Pronunciation

• IPA: /'kʌstədiː/ (Estuary English)

Homophones

• custardy (in some dialects)

Noun

custody (uncountable)

1. Possession of something or someone.

Derived terms

• joint custody
• maternal custody
• paternal custody
• sole custody

Related terms

• custodial
• custodian