Physical Care Definition:

Justice Streit of the Supreme Court of Iowa wrote this, in re Marriage of Fennelly & Breckenfelder, in which the mother had been awarded physical care pursuant to a previous court order:

"Iowa law distinguishes custody from physical care.

"Custody concerns the legal rights and responsibilities toward the child, including decisions affecting the child's legal status, medical care, education, extracurricular activities, and religious instruction.

"Physical care, on the other hand, is the right and responsibility to maintain a home for the minor child and provide for the routine care of the child.

"When considering the issue of physical care, the child's best interest is the overriding consideration.... If joint physical care is not appropriate, the court must choose one parent to be the primary caretaker, awarding the other parent visitation rights."

REFERENCES:

• In re Marriage of Fennelly & Breckenfelder, 737 NW 2d 97 (2007)