Abandonment of Child


Definition of Abandonment of Child

The abandonment of a child refers to a situation where a parent or guardian leaves behind the child indefinitely with no intention of coming back to care for the child. In nearly every state in the United State, abandonment of a child can be criminally prosecuted and is usually seen as a felony.



Abandonment of Child Explained

In many states, the abandonment of a child is seen as child abuse. It is almost always required for a person who has knowledge of any child abuse occurring to report that child abuse to the proper authorities. Many states also require that a person let the proper authorities know when child abandonment has occurred. Parents cannot elect or choose to terminate their parental rights through abandonment of a child. However, if a parent does abandon their child, they will almost certainly lose their parental rights.





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