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View Full Version : Full Custody and/or Child Abandonment


sjdonnell75
Sep 1, 2014, 04:31 AM
I am a single parent of an 8 year child.My daughter's father has not seen her since she was 1 year old. There is a court order for child support but he is not working. I have provided for her solely ever since she was born. He has contacted her in total about 6 times over the past 8 years. He is not active in her life at all. He does not visit her at all. Do I have grounds to file for full custody and/or child abandonment in Florida?

AK lawyer
Sep 1, 2014, 07:04 AM
Perhaps, but why bother, if he rarely bothers to see the child anyway?

By-the-way, it's not "child abandonment". That would describe leaving a young child all alone without any supervision.

ScottGem
Sep 1, 2014, 07:50 AM
Child abandonment is a criminal charge involved with leaving a child without adult supervision. So that doesn't apply here, its not something you "file" for.

What level of custody did the courts award? There is legal and physical custody. It would appear you have primary physical custody, but maybe joint legal custody? What do you think full custody would get you since the father doesn't seem to be exercising his rights?

Fr_Chuck
Sep 2, 2014, 12:55 AM
What custody do you have now? Joint?

You can ask for a change of custody. Full custody does not mean, that the father will not have visitation rights, merely not visiting, does not take away those rights.