以上術(shù)語(yǔ)均與對(duì)未成年人的監(jiān)護(hù)有關(guān)。其中，joint custody (共同監(jiān)護(hù)權(quán)，也稱為shared custody)是指離婚或分居時(shí)法院判決或經(jīng)協(xié)議夫妻雙方均對(duì)子女擁有的監(jiān)護(hù)權(quán)[1]；其理由是婚姻雖然破滅，但父母關(guān)系卻是永恒的。實(shí)踐中，joint custody又分為“法定共同監(jiān)護(hù)權(quán)”（joint legal custody)和“實(shí)際共同監(jiān)護(hù)” (joint physical custody)兩種。前者僅要求對(duì)于有關(guān)子女的重大決策須由父母雙方共同商議決定；而后者則包括一種法定居住地的安排，即須安排子女輪流在一段時(shí)間內(nèi)住宿在離婚父母各自的家中[2]。

[1]“Custody of children shared by both divorced or separated parents under an order or agreement. ”Cf. Daphne Dukelow，The Dictionary of Canadian Law，at p. 549，Thomson professional Publishing Canada (1991).

[2]“It may involve joint legal custody and joint physical custody. Such includes physical sharing of child in additional to both parents participating in decisions affecting child's life, e. g.，education, medical problems, recreations, etc.. ”Cf. The Publisher's Editorial Staff, Black's Law Dictionary, abridged 6th edition, at p. 267, West Publishing Co.