My husband left me in Feb 2010 and I had to get a protective order in may 2010 due to his threatining mine and my daughters well being. During the hearing for the protective order he said he didn't want visitation with our daughter and he hasn't seen her since. I am afraid he is waiting for the prtctive order to expire and take my daughter from me since the only custody arrangement is in the protective order.

So you basically don't have any custody order, a "protective" order is not a custody order.

And terms depend on where you live, abandonment in GA for example is not paying court ordered child support. * or leaving them off on the side of the road or something.

So what you need to do is file for custody, and let him file for either joint custody or visits ( or nothing at all) Then you work it out in court.

So what you need to do is file for custody in court

So why haven't you filed for divorce?

By the way, ANY question on law NEEDS too include your general locale as laws very by area.

I can't afford a divorce on my own but, I have some money saved for emergencies so I think I am going to get a lawyer and file tomorrow. I live in Iowa.