What is the difference between custody and guardianship of a child?

Custody generally refers to the day-to-day physical care of the child — who the child actually lives with and who handles their daily routine, schooling logistics, and immediate needs. Guardianship is broader — it refers to overall legal authority and responsibility for the child's person and property, including significant decisions like major medical treatment, choice of school, or managing any property the child owns or inherits.

A parent can have guardianship rights even without having physical custody — for instance, a non-custodial parent often retains guardianship-related rights to be consulted on major decisions, even though the child primarily lives with the other parent.

In practice, courts often address both aspects together in custody proceedings, since they're closely related, but understanding the distinction matters because a custody order alone might not fully address who has authority over, say, managing the child's inherited property or making major medical decisions. It's worth discussing both aspects specifically with your family lawyer so nothing important is left unaddressed in your order.