What are the laws regarding child abandonment?

Answer 1

According to the Revised Code of Washington, any person who deserts a child in any manner with the intent to abandon is guilty of the crime of family abandonment. This is a class C felony and punishable by up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine.

Answer 2

Child abandonment in law is the act whereby the child under the age of eighteen is left under her own supervision for some time which is not appropriate. Child abandonment is governed by the state laws. Every state has its own definition for child abandonment and the laws also vary.

In some states, as long as the child is in the custody of the custodial parent there is no child abandonment by a non-visiting non-custodial parent. In some states a non-custodial parent who fails to pay child support and who doesn't spend any time with the child can be found to have abandoned the child. You need to check the laws in your particular state to determine your state's definition.

Although child abandonment can affect any child under eighteen, the laws are often more focused on the abandonment of younger children, under thirteen, and particularly extremely young children.

Contempt of a child support order should always be filed by the custodial parent who is not receiving child support payments as scheduled.

Answer 3

Assuming none of the following factors exist, the court will allocate decision-making authority (legal custody) to one or both parties regarding the children's education, health care, and religious upbringing based on the parenting plan proposed by the parents. Regardless of the allocation of decision-making in the parenting plan, either parent may make emergency decisions affecting the health or safety of the child. Each parent also may make decisions regarding the day-to-day care and control of the child while the child is residing with that parent.

The court shall consider the following in deciding whether to award in favor of or against joint legal custody:

1. The history of participation of each parent in decision making regarding the child(ren);
   
   
2. Whether the parents have a demonstrated ability and desire to cooperate with one another in making decisions regarding the child(ren);
   
   
3. The parents' geographic proximity to one another, to the extent that it affects their ability to make timely mutual decisions.

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