Without a viable non-custodial parent who is able to care for the child, custody could be awarded to other biological relatives, like grandparents, aunts, and uncles. There could be a family friend willing to step in as well. On the other hand, if the deceased custodial parent had remarried and there is a stepparent, the latter might want to pursue adopting the child if they have not done so already. This will greatly depend on the child’s relationship with the stepparent, and matters can get complicated if the non-custodial, biological parent is seeking custody as well.  With stepparent adoptions, the non-custodial parent would need to terminate their parental rights.