WomensLaw serves and supports all survivors, no matter their sex or gender.

Legal Information: General

Custody

Laws current as of April 27, 2023

Who can help me with further questions?

WomensLaw.org strongly recommends that you talk to someone in a local domestic violence agency and a lawyer to help you with this decision, if you have not already. To find a local agency or someone who can help you, click on the Places that Help tab at the top of this page.

Remember, the information on this page is just general information. Your state may have differing laws or other things you can do.

You may also want to check your state’s custody page on this site for additional information.  Go to Custody and put your state into the drop-down menu. 

Legal Information

© 2008–2024 WomensLaw.org is a project of the National Network to End Domestic Violence, Inc. All rights reserved. This website is funded in part through a grant from the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse, this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided). NNEDV is a 501©(3) non-profit organization; EIN 52-1973408.