In family law, an absent parent is an individual, who is the biological parent of a child, takes a non-custodial role in the child's life, including no physical contact with the child in any family or domestic setting. These non-custodial parents are commonly required to furnish child support to the custodial parent. In other cases, an absent parent may simply abandon dependants and spouse in lieu of having responsibility or paying financial support. In these cases, the parent is deemed non-custodial and has no legal or physical contact with a child. Absent parents may be found in contempt of court if they fail to meet child support arrangements.