Temporary custody allows an extended family member or stepparent to act as a parent for a child that is not his/her child. If awarded temporary custody, you will have similar rights to a parent such as access to medical and school records, ability to consent to medical treatment for the child, ability to enroll/unenroll the child in school, and the ability to consent to participation in school activities.
If you have consent from the parents of the child, the process for obtaining temporary custody will be more simplified. Otherwise, if consent is not given, you may have to prove to the judge that the child has been abused, abandoned, or neglected by the non-consenting parent(s). If the child in question is already living with you and you are already acting as a substitute parent for that child, you may have grounds to apply for temporary custody without consent from the parents. Each case is unique and a consultation with a qualified family law attorney can help determine the proper avenue for you.