Final decision making authority is the designated right of one parent to make the final call on specified categories of major decisions after a required consultation process has been completed without reaching agreement. It is the operative mechanism in joint legal decision making orders when parents cannot agree.

Final decision making authority is different from sole legal decision making. In a sole legal decision making arrangement one parent makes major decisions without being required to consult the other. In a joint arrangement with final decision making authority designated to one parent both parents participate in the consultation before the final decision maker acts.

The parent designated with final decision making authority on a specific category carries the responsibility that comes with it. If that decision turns out to be wrong or harmful the court will look at who made it. That accountability should inform how the designation is structured in the parenting plan.