Abstract
<jats:p>The article is devoted to the analysis of complex aspects of custody and guardianship of children left without parental care. It raises issues related to the legal status of guardians and guardians, as well as a comparative analysis of paid custody/guardianship and placement of a child in a foster family. The key point of the study is the legal nature of the custody agreement, which, despite its apparent simplicity, contains many nuances. First, it is necessary to understand in detail the differences between guardianship and guardianship. Custody is established over minors under the age of 14 and involves the full management of the child's property and personal affairs by the guardian. Guardianship, which is assigned to teenagers from 14 to 18 years old, provides the ward with greater independence in the disposal of their own funds, however, the trustee controls large transactions and protects the rights of the minor. Both institutions can be either gratuitous or reimbursable, which creates additional difficulties.</jats:p>