| Family law |
|---|
| Entering into marriage |
| Prenuptial agreement Marriage Common-law marriage Same-sex marriage |
| Legal states similar to marriage |
| Cohabitation · Civil union Domestic partnership Registered partnership Putative marriage |
| Dissolution of marriage |
| Annulment · Divorce · Legal separation (Alimony) |
| Issues affecting children |
| Adoption · Child abduction · Child abuse Child custody · Child marriage Child Protective Services (United States) Child support · Contact (including visitation) Emancipation of minors Foster care · Grandparent visitation Legal guardian · Legitimacy Parental responsibility · Parenting coordinator Parenting plan · Paternity Residence in English family law · Ward |
| Conflict of laws |
| Divorce · Marriage · Nullity International child abduction (Convention) |
| Related areas |
| Adultery · Bigamy Domestic violence · Incest |
In some custody situations, it is possible that the child/children will not remain with either of their natural, biological, parents, but instead custody is awarded to a third person.[1] Generally speaking, third-party custody occurs when one of two options occur:[1]
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Occasionally, parents will agree to allow an adult (who is not either of the two parents) to raise their child/children.[1] Generally, if either parent changes his/her mind later in the child's life, he/she has the option to seek custody at that point.[1]
Custody may be awarded to a third adult (who is not either of the two parents) because the parents both seemed unfit to do so.[1] Reasons that the court would retain authority over the child/children and later award custody to a third adult include:[1]