What does physical custody refer to?

Physical custody refers to the actual possession or control of a child, which means the day-to-day living arrangements and where the child resides. This concept encompasses the physical aspect of custody, highlighting the importance of where the child spends most of their time, rather than the legal authority to make decisions about the child's welfare or upbringing.

In the context of this question, indicating that physical custody can occur without a formal court order emphasizes the practical reality of custody arrangements that can exist between parents or guardians, which may be based on informal agreements or living situations. Physical custody focuses on the child's immediate living circumstance and does not inherently involve legal terms like guardianship or decision-making authority.

Other options focus on aspects that do not define physical custody. For instance, legal decision-making rights or guardianship pertain to legal aspects instead of the actual daily living situations of the child. Similarly, supervised visitations relate specifically to visit conditions rather than the broader application of physical custody itself. Thus, the identification of physical custody as actual custody without a court order captures its essential characteristic effectively.