As a parent, you have vowed to take care of your children until they have reached adulthood and sometimes beyond. Part of this includes planning for if the unthinkable happens, and you are no longer alive to fulfill this vow.

Although length of time is one consideration, it is not the only factor taken into consideration when an allegation of child abandonment is made in a child custody case, according to "Child Custody A to Z" by Guy J. White.

If a parent with a child support obligation, or the custodial parent, moves to another state, a court can entertain the possibility of transferring the case to that other jurisdiction, according to the American Bar Association Section of Family Law.

In limited situations, the laws of all states permit a person the ability to obtain emergency custody of minor children, according to the American Bar Association Section of Family Law. Emergency custody is awarded by a judge on a temporary basis and usually without the benefit of a full hearing before the court.

Judges do not make custody decisions in all divorce, legal separation, paternity or similar types of cases. Rather, in many instances, the parents reach decisions regarding custody through face-to-face negotiations, according to "Child Custody A to Z" by Guy J. White.

States laws govern divorce filings, and you must meet specific state legal requirements to file in your county. Though most divorces are filed in county courthouses, some counties have numerous courthouses or locations where the actual filing can take place.

Child molestation is a crime involving sexual or inappropriate contact between an adult and a child. Commonly referred to as pedophilia, child abuse or child rape, molestation is a serious crime. Texas has several laws that apply to molestation cases, all of which provide for criminal penalties for any violator.

As a resident of New Jersey involved in a divorce or similar type of proceeding, a prime consideration for you may be how to file for child custody. Child custody laws and court procedures are codified in the New Jersey Permanent Statutes, Title 9.

If you reach a juncture in your life at which you and your spouse or partner cannot care for your child, you may need to sign full custody over to a grandparent.

Affidavits oftentimes play a role in child custody proceedings, according to "Child Custody A to Z" by Guy J. White.

Divorce is complicated enough without adding the element of a spouse who lives in another country. Divorcing someone outside the United States is not impossible, but it is often more difficult than a purely domestic divorce.

Situations exist when the rights of a mother and the potential rights of a grandparent regarding child custody conflict, according to the American Bar Association Section of Family Law. Family law statutes in all states set out the parameters for child custody rights for parents and grandparents.