In most states a parent is considered to have abandoned a child if the parent does not make contact with the child and withholds financial support for a period of one or two years. Abandonment may be a basis to terminate a parent’s parental rights. But most states will not terminate a parent’s legal rights and obligations unless there is another adult—often a family member or stepparent—who wants to formally adopt the child.

Abandonment may result in criminal charges if a parent or guardian leaves a child under a certain age (15, for example) in any place and circumstance under which no reasonable adult would do so. For example, leaving a 8 year old child at the shopping mall may result in criminal charges of abandonment.

In Washington State, child abandonment is addressed under both family law and criminal statutes. Under family law, abandonment by a parent can be grounds for terminating parental rights if the parent has failed to communicate with the child or provide financial support for an extended period, typically one year (RCW 13.34.180). However, the court will generally not terminate parental rights unless there is another person, such as a stepparent or relative, ready to adopt the child. In terms of criminal law, a parent or guardian may face criminal charges for abandonment if they leave a child in a situation where no reasonable adult would do so, which could be considered reckless endangerment or abandonment of a dependent person under RCW 9A.42. Such charges depend on the age of the child and the circumstances of the abandonment. The specific age at which a child can be considered abandoned in a criminal sense is not fixed at 15 in Washington State, but the child's age and vulnerability will be key factors in determining whether the parent's actions constitute a criminal offense.