How long is it a father has to have no contact with a child to be abandonment?I LIVE IN NEW YORK STATE.

- moved from Introductions -

I don't believe there is a time factor in New York; see:
Abandonment
Citation: Soc. Serv. Law § 384-b

A child is abandoned by his parent if such parent evinces an intent to forego his or her parental rights and obligations as manifested by his or her failure to visit the child and communicate with the child or agency, although able to do so and not prevented or discouraged from doing so by the agency. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, such ability to visit and communicate shall be presumed.

Taken from: http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/state/index.cfm?event=stateStatutes.processSearch

Why are you concerned with abandonment? Are you trying to have rights terminated for a spouse to adopt? Because that is the only thing abandonment helps do.