The father's right was long superior, but courts today, in custody disputes, favor either the father or the mother, whichever is deemed better suited to rear the child. In case of divorce , custody may be granted to either parent or divided between them. Whoever has the lawful custody of a child has the right to control and punish him or her, so long as the means used are not excessive. In some cases when the income of a child is substantial, current earnings can be held in trust until the child reaches adulthood.
Emancipation is the dissolution of the parent-child relationship.
For the sociological and psychological aspects of the relationship, see family .