What is a "custodial parent"?

A "custodial parent" refers specifically to the parent who primarily cares for and resides with the child, holding physical custody of the child. This relationship generally encompasses day-to-day responsibilities, living arrangements, and fulfilling the child's immediate needs. In family law, physical custody implies that the custodial parent is the one with whom the child lives for most of the time and to whom the responsibility for the child's daily care is entrusted.

This term is distinct from other parental rights or responsibilities. For example, having the right to make important decisions regarding the child—such as educational, medical, or religious choices—refers more specifically to legal custody, which can be held by one or both parents. Payment of child support is an obligation that can fall on either parent, depending on the custody arrangement and income of the parents, but it does not define who has custody of the child. Similarly, visitation during weekends does not equate to custodial status, as it often pertains to a non-custodial parent who spends limited time with the child.

Thus, identifying a custodial parent is primarily about recognizing the parent with whom the child primarily resides and with whom the child has a stable living environment.