Legal Definitions - noncustodial

Definition: Noncustodial is an adjective that can have two meanings:

1. Not taking place while a person is in custody, such as an interrogation or questioning.
2. Related to someone, usually a parent, who does not have primary or sole custody of a child.

Examples:

• Noncustodial interrogation: The police officer questioned the suspect before arresting them, making it a noncustodial interrogation.
• Noncustodial parent: After the divorce, the mother was granted primary custody of the children, while the father became a noncustodial parent.

The first example illustrates the first meaning of noncustodial, where an interrogation takes place before a person is taken into custody. The second example illustrates the second meaning, where a parent does not have primary custody of their child after a divorce or separation.