Of all of the circumstances that can arise in a battle over child custody, abandonment is often one of the most difficult situations to prove in a court of law. In some situations, abandonment is clear-cut, as when a parent deserts the child in a public location or attempts to surrender him or her to state authorities. However, in most situations, it is difficult to prove whether the parent intended to abandon the child permanently. For example, if the parent leaves the child with a relative, it may be unclear whether the situation was intended as a temporary measure. However, if you can marshal compelling evidence to prove that the custodial parent did not handle the situation properly, a charge of abandonment can often impact the court