custody
The legal right to look after a child and make decisions for them, usually after parents break up.
The legal right and duty to care for, live with, and make important decisions for a child, especially after the parents separate or divorce.
The state of being held by the police or in jail so you cannot leave.
The state of being kept under official control by the police or in prison and not being free to leave.
The care and control of important things, like money or documents, so they are safe.
The protective care, control, and safekeeping of property, documents, or other valuable items by a person or organization.
A service where a bank or company keeps and manages people’s investments, like shares and bonds, for them.
A financial service in which a bank or other institution holds, safeguards, and administers clients' financial assets such as stocks, bonds, or cryptocurrencies.
- Base: custody
- Plural: custodies, custody
be awarded custody
1receive child custody by court
To be officially given legal custody of a child by a judge.
- She was awarded custody of both children.
- In the end, neither parent was awarded custody.
- The father hopes to be awarded custody at the next hearing.
custody agreement
1written legal plan for custody
A written legal paper that shows what both parents have agreed about custody of their child.
- They signed a custody agreement without going to court.
- The lawyer reviewed the custody agreement carefully.
- The custody agreement sets out holidays and school breaks.
custody arrangement
1plan for how custody is shared
The plan that says where a child will live and how parents will share care and time with the child.
- They worked out a custody arrangement through mediation.
- The custody arrangement allows the children to see both parents regularly.
- Their current custody arrangement is not working well.
custody battle
1legal fight over child custody
A long and difficult fight in court between parents about who will have custody of their child.
- Their bitter custody battle lasted more than two years.
- The celebrity couple is involved in a high-profile custody battle.
- Many children suffer emotionally during a custody battle.
custody dispute
1disagreement about who gets custody
A disagreement, usually in court, about which parent should have custody of a child.
- The custody dispute has put a lot of stress on the family.
- They hope to resolve the custody dispute without going to trial.
- International custody disputes can be very complicated.
custody hearing
1court session about child custody
A meeting in court where a judge listens to both parents and decides who should have custody of a child.
- The custody hearing is scheduled for next Friday.
- She was very nervous before the custody hearing.
- Several witnesses spoke at the custody hearing.
custody order
1court’s official custody decision
A paper from a court that officially says who has custody of a child and under what conditions.
- The judge issued a temporary custody order.
- They are asking the court to change the existing custody order.
- Breaking a custody order can have serious legal consequences.
in custody
1being officially held by police
Being held and not allowed to leave by the police or in prison.
- Three people are in custody following the attack.
- The suspect remains in custody until the court hearing.
- Police confirmed that the driver is now in custody.
joint custody
1shared legal care of a child
A legal plan in which both parents share the right and duty to care for their child after they separate.
- They agreed to joint custody of their two sons.
- The court awarded joint custody, so both parents make decisions together.
- Many divorced couples now choose joint custody arrangements.
legal custody
1right to make decisions for a child
The right to make important decisions for a child, like school, health care, and religion.
- She has legal custody, so she decides which school the child attends.
- In some cases parents share legal custody but not physical custody.
- Legal custody does not always mean the child lives with that parent.
lose custody
1stop having child custody
To no longer have legal custody of a child, often because of a court decision.
- He could lose custody if he breaks the court order.
- Many parents fear they will lose custody in a divorce.
- She lost custody after failing to appear in court.
physical custody
1where the child mainly lives
The part of custody that says which parent the child lives with most of the time.
- The mother has primary physical custody of both children.
- They share legal custody but the father has physical custody.
- Physical custody determines where the child spends school nights.
regain custody
1get child custody back
To get legal custody of a child again after you did not have it for some time.
- He is trying to regain custody of his son.
- After treatment, she hopes to regain custody of her children.
- The court will decide whether she can regain custody next year.
sole custody
1one parent has full custody
A legal plan in which only one parent has the main right and duty to care for a child.
- After the divorce, she was granted sole custody of the children.
- He is fighting for sole custody because he believes the children are unsafe.
- In some cases, the court decides that sole custody is best.
take into custody
1arrest and detain someone
If the police take someone into custody, they arrest them and do not let them leave.
- Officers took the suspect into custody at the scene.
- The police took two teenagers into custody after the fight.
- He was taken into custody without incident.
protective custody
1being held for own protection
When the police or prison keep someone in a safe place to protect them from harm.
- The witness was placed in protective custody after receiving threats.
- The child was taken into protective custody by social services.
- The prisoner is now in protective custody away from the main population.
protective custody
2officially held to keep safe
When the police or other officials keep someone in a secure place to keep them safe from danger.
- The key witness was placed in protective custody before the trial.
- Police held the suspect in protective custody after they received threats.