Cal. Fam. Code § 3003 : CALIFORNIA FAMILY CODE — CUSTODY OF CHILDREN — DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL PROVISIONS — DEFINITIONS — Joint legal custody TEXT PDF "Joint legal custody" means that both parents shall share the right and the responsibility to make the decisions relating to the health, education, and welfare of a child. Ca. Fam. Code § 3003 Enacted by Stats. 1992, Ch. 162, Sec. 10. Operative January 1, 1994.