For joint legal custody, do I need to ASK permission to join a church? Or simply notify the other party?

This is a bit of a touchy issue that attorneys and courts dislike wading into, and there are a lot of differing opinions on the subject. Some attorneys will argue that the mere presence of a child at a church of a faith to which a parent objects is a violation of their joint legal custody rights. Others will argue that what a parent does with a child on their parenting time is up to them without the input of the other parent. But what I think is the practical balance the a court will strike is at the point of official membership. Either parent is allowed to have the child accompany them wherever they go during their parenting time. But for the child to be allowed to officially join the faith will be a decision both parents must agree upon.

You may join whatever church you wish. However, as my colleague has described, virtually every judge will draw the line on having the child become a member against the wishes of the other parent. Joint legal custody requires that both parents agree on which church a child will officially become a member of. As very few churches require formal membership merely to attend, you may be able to simply notify the other parent that you intend to take the child to your church from time to time and leave it at that.