Roy Keswick Farber

You cannot "own" or "possess" a child, so "custody" should NEVER have been used! For kids, It always meant "decision making" and that's what parents do "jointly" or together, or can't do, so maybe one has "sole decision-making" when it comes to major (vs. day-to-day) matters. Parenting time is the second biggy, and it depends on many things. And there's a lot more, like child support. It all boils down to what's in the best interests of the child, & how disagreements get resolved!

Once there's a marriage, by common law or ceremony, it has to be dissolved or a legal separation (seldom used) ordered. Property assets and debts get fairly divided, and alimony will be addressed. These issues are very complex.

There are many oither issues in this HUGE area of law. Stepparents and relatives may have rights to children. And even without a marriage, folk form partnerships while living together. Get informed and DO IT RIGHT!