Ask Me Help Desk - Mother Abandoning children

Mother Abandoning children

I am a step mother of two children. We have full physical custody of our to kids and joint legal, but their Biological mother only has supervised visitation and phone contact rights. The problem we are having is that she has made no attempt to contact them since Nov 2009 and then only sent a text. Prior to that we initiated contact twice, but she asked us to not call her because of a family issue and stated that she would text and let us know when it was OK to call. She never sent that text. I am wondering if any one knows the laws in Texas for child abandonment. The kids mother is unstable and we want to provide as much stability in our kids life as possible. They have been through too much as it is. Any advise would be appreciated.

In addition what steps do I need to take to legally adopt my step children?

In addition though it was court ordered we have never received any sort of child support.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bahama

I am a step mother of two children. We have full physical custody of our to kids and joint legal, but their Biological mother only has supervised visitation and phone contact rights. The problem we are having is that she has made no attempt to contact them since Nov 2009 and then only sent a text. Prior to that we initiated contact twice, but she asked us to not call her because of a family issue and stated that she would text and let us know when it was ok to call. She never sent that text. I am wondering if any one knows the laws in Texas for child abandonment. The kids mother is unstable and we want to provide as much stability in our kids life as possible. They have been through to much as it is. Any advise would be appreciated.

In addition what steps do I need to take to legally adopt my step children?

Abandonment is not used in the context of which you are thinking. There is a sticky at the top of the Family Law forum regarding this topic; you can read it here:
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/family...st-364259.html

If you want to adopt your stepchildren, the mother would have to be willing to sign over her rights to allow the adoption. There is also a sticky on this topic, which can be read here:
https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/family...st-116098.html
How long have you been married? How long has the court order been in place giving your husband primary physical custody?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bahama

In addition though it was court ordered we have never received any sort of child support.

Back to the same question: how old is the order? Does the mother not work or file a tax return? How far in arrears is she? Why have you not filed for contempt of court against her for failure to pay support?

Hello B:

We're often times asked if a mother should attempt to remove the fathers rights because he hasn't visited or paid for a long time.

My typical answer is WHY do something that will only cost money and not really change anything where the rubber meets the road. He's NOT using his rights to begin with, so removing them would be a waste of time AND money.

Do I need to translate that into an answer for you?

excon

Quote:

Originally Posted by excon

Hello B:

We're often times asked if a mother should attempt to remove the fathers rights because he hasn't visited or paid for a long time.

My typical answer is WHY do something that will only cost money and not really change anything where the rubber meets the road. He's NOT using his rights to begin with, so removing them would be a waste of time AND money.

Do I need to translate that into an answer for you?

excon

I think you misunderstood. The OP is the stepmother, not the mother. She wants to adopt the children, not remove their father's rights.

Quote:

Originally Posted by this8384

I think you misunderstood. The OP is the stepmother, not the mother. She wants to adopt the children, not remove their father's rights.

Hello this:

I don't think I did. I was using an allegory.

excon

Quote:

Originally Posted by excon

Hello this:

I don't think I did. I was using an allegory.

excon

Well, then I don't agree. If the woman isn't making an effort to contact her own children, not to mention that she's already on supervised visitation, then it may be in their best interest to be adopted by their stepmother.

In my opinion, it doesn't benefit the child to spend X amount of years having a regular routine and then suddenly have that disrupted because their parent decided to get their act together and start exercising their rights.

Hello again, this:

Ok. *greenie*

excon