The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word CHARGE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
C
H
A
R
G
E
More clues leading to the result CHARGE
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Ask for/custody" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case ask for/custody = charge.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does CHARGE mean?
CHARGE noun- The amount of money levied for a service.
- A ground attack against a prepared enemy.
- A forceful forward movement.
- An accusation.
- An electric charge.
- The scope of someone's responsibility.
- Someone or something entrusted to one's care, such as a child to a babysitter or a student to a teacher.
- A load or burden; cargo.
- An instruction.
- An offensive foul in which the player with the ball moves into a stationary defender.
- A measured amount of powder and/or shot in a firearm cartridge.
- An image displayed on an escutcheon.
- A position (of a weapon) fitted for attack.
- A sort of plaster or ointment.
- Weight; import; value.
- A measure of thirty-six pigs of lead, each pig weighing about seventy pounds; a charre.
- An address given at a church service concluding a visitation.
- To assign a duty or responsibility to
- To assign (a debit) to an account
- To pay on account, as by using a credit card
- To require payment (of) (a price or fee, for goods, services, etc.)
- (possibly archaic) to sell at a given price.
- To formally accuse (a person) of a crime.
- To impute or ascribe
- To call to account; to challenge
- To place a burden or load on or in
- To load equipment with material required for its use, as a firearm with powder, a fire hose with water, a chemical reactor with raw materials
- To move forward quickly and forcefully, particularly in combat and/or on horseback
- (of a hunting dog) to lie on the belly and be still (A command given by a hunter to a dog)