My son's father hasn't seen him in over 2 years, since August, 06. He has never paid child support for him. He is on his birth certificate but the state of Florida can't seem to work quickly enough to serve him with papers for child support. I am now getting married in December 08, and my to be husband wants to adopt him. My fiance' and I have been together since Jan 07. Where do I start? Is this considered abandonment?

This is a common misunderstanding about abandonment. You can't file for abandonment that is a criminal charge for when someone leaves a child at a bus stop or the like. What you want to do is wait until you have been married for at least one year then hire an adoption attorney (required) and use abandonment as grounds for a TPR so that your husband can adopt. The father will have to be served and he can show up in court to deny the adoption. You will then have to continue going to court to get support from him. A judge won't put off ordering support forever they will issue a default judgement.

My niece left her 19 month daughter at my house, and it as now been nine days. I have just learned she is in jail in another state. I would like to know should I file abandoment being that I need help with this child?

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Originally Posted by pajones

my niece lefted her 19 month daughter at my house, and it as now been nine days. I have just learned she is in jail in another state. i would like to know should I file abandoment being that I need help with this child?

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No but you can file for temporary guardian so you can have custody of the child for now. Also where is the father ?

All you do in all cases is just file for custody of the child, file for support,
Abandoment is not understood.
In most states merely not seeing the child or not payig support does nothing but cause them to lose custody cases