How do joint custody and sole custody differ?

Sole custody is much more often a power play, only occasionally a way to protect your kids from the other parent. Joint custody imposes the lesser jolt on your kids. Joint legal custody shares decision-making rather than vesting it in one parent, as sole custody does. Sole custody is a shield to protect kids when needed, not a sword to punish the other parent. Most mediated cases are resolved with joint custody, but they don’t have to be. All litigated cases are resolved with sole custody, and they do have to be.