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This almanac explores the many facets of the law of child custody, and provides a brief history of child custody decision-making in the United States. The modern-day standards by which courts award custody is discussed, including the factors a court considers in making a custody determination. The various types of custody arrangements presently available are also examined. Other topics covered here include the custodial rights of unmarried parents and step-parents, recent rulings concerning the parental status of same-sex partners, impact of reproductive technology in custody cases, interstate and international custody litigation, and parental abduction, as well as the custody-related topics of visitation, paternity, child support, and child abuse. The Legal Almanac Series consists of over 75 titles and serves to educate the general public on a variety of legal issues pertinent to everyday life. Each volume includes an overview of the topic followed by chapters on the major issues in that subject, an Appendix containing several primary source documents as well as practical forms and checklists. A Glossary defines any technical terms used in the text.