以上术语均与对未成年人的监护有关。其中，joint custody (共同监护权，也称为shared custody)是指离婚或分居时法院判决或经协议夫妻双方均对子女拥有的监护权[1]；其理由是婚姻虽然破灭，但父母关系却是永恒的。实践中，joint custody又分为“法定共同监护权”（joint legal custody)和“实际共同监护” (joint physical custody)两种。前者仅要求对于有关子女的重大决策须由父母双方共同商议决定；而后者则包括一种法定居住地的安排，即须安排子女轮流在一段时间内住宿在离婚父母各自的家中[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.