Legal Definitions - foundling

A foundling refers to a very young child who has been abandoned or deserted by their parents or guardians and is discovered without any identification or adult care.

Here are some examples to illustrate this term:

• Example 1: A newborn baby is discovered wrapped in a blanket on the doorstep of a hospital, with no note or identifying information, and no one comes forward to claim the child. The hospital staff, after ensuring the baby's health, would refer to the child as a foundling as they were left without care or identification by their parent(s).

• Example 2: In a state with "Safe Haven" laws, a parent anonymously places their infant in a designated drop-off box at a fire station. Although the child is left in a safe place, they are still considered a foundling because they were deserted by their parent(s) without identification and subsequently discovered by authorities.

• Example 3: A toddler, estimated to be around 18 months old, is found wandering alone in a busy shopping mall parking lot. Despite extensive searches and public appeals, no parent or guardian comes forward to claim the child. This child would be considered a foundling, having been abandoned by their caregivers and discovered without proper supervision or identification.