View Full Version : How long does a parent have to be absent before you can file child abandonment charge
brandykae
Apr 17, 2013, 07:55 AM
My husband left me and 3 kids on December 27,2011 and moved to Alabama. Since then he has had little contact with them and has only only sent me an estimate of $800.00. Can I file abandonment charges on him and if so what are the consequences he could face.
JudyKayTee
Apr 17, 2013, 07:56 AM
What do you hope to accomplish by "filing abandonment" against him?
My suggestion is if you need/want child support (to which your children are entitled) go to the Courthouse and file an application for support. You don't need an Attorney.
I don't know how you've held everything together for so long with an absentee father - you must be a strong woman.
Now you need to be strong enough to file in Court.
brandykae
Apr 17, 2013, 08:06 AM
What do you hope to accomplish by "filing abandonment" against him?
My suggestion is if you need/want child support (to which your children are entitled) go to the Courthouse and file an application for support. You don't need an Attorney.
I don't know how you've held everything together for so long with an absentee father - you must be a strong woman.
Now you need to be strong enough to file in Court.
I filed for child support about a month ago and I'm waiting to hear back from them. All I want is for him to not be able to come get the kids like out of school or something and run off to Alabama with them I live in Arkansas and thts a long way away he wants them for summer break and I'm so scared that if I let them go he won't bring them back.
JudyKayTee
Apr 17, 2013, 08:15 AM
You need to file for sole custody and if you think he's going to grab them and run you need to ask for an emergency order.
ScottGem
Apr 17, 2013, 09:44 AM
Then you need to file for sole legal and physical custody. You can't "file abandonment charges". You can use abandonment as grounds for sole custody, but you want to file for custody.