View Full Version : Child abandonment laws in virginia
goodmommy1
Apr 27, 2013, 07:07 PM
My sons father pays child support & provides medical insurance, however, he has not seen our son in 6 months or even asked about him. Is this considered Abandonment in Virginia? Please someone help me.
cdad
Apr 27, 2013, 07:12 PM
Nope not if he is supporting the child. Its just considered no contact is all.
goodmommy1
Apr 27, 2013, 07:16 PM
Nope not if he is supporting the child. Its just considered no contact is all.
Thank you. He has asked me to let him sign over his rights. He says that way he wouldn't have to pay child support. Is this correct?
cdad
Apr 27, 2013, 08:50 PM
Sure as soon as the child is adopted. Until then he can pay and should pay at the highest levels if he is not going to participate in the child's life.
ScottGem
Apr 28, 2013, 04:55 AM
Thank you. He has asked me to let him sign over his rights. He says that way he wouldn't have to pay child support. Is this correct?
There is a myth that a parent can just sign over their rights, but its only a myth. Only a court can terminate parental rights and courts are very reluctant to do so. They will almost never do so to let a parent out of paying child support. So he apparently knows nothing about the law.
As for child abandonment, why did you ask? Child abandonment may be used as grounds for something like limiting visitation, but it is not something that is used by itself.