Never married to my ex. Have two girls with him, ages 8 & 10. He has only paid about $100 in support over the past two years, none of which has been paid in the last year. He never calls or contacts them. Been at 5 months since he has seen them. I've been married for 6 years and the girls have a great relationship with my husband and call him dad. What is the time frame in Indiana to be classified as abandonment? My husband would adopt them if possible and I'm wanting their name to be changed as they have my maiden name now. How would I go about all of this?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cakeangels

Never married to my ex. Have two girls with him, ages 8 & 10. He has only paid about $100 in support over the past two years, none of which has been paid in the last year. He never calls or contacts them. Been at 5 months since he has seen them. I've been married for 6 years and the girls have a great relationship with my husband and call him dad. What is the time frame in Indiana to be classified as abandonment? My husband would adopt them if possible and I'm wanting their name to be changed as they have my maiden name now. How would i go about all of this?

---

Doen't matter you will have to take him to court... If Child support was never orderd there's nothing that can be done about that part..

Support was ordered over 8 years ago. For the past 3 years we've went to court over 2 dozen times and nothing has been done about it. He didn't show up for the last court hearing and they issued a warrant for him. Then he paid about one weeks worth of support so they dropped the warrant. Not been to court in over a year because it seems to be a waste of my time. I don't want him locked up. I just want him to either be there for his kids or to be out completely. Its not fair that these girls have a father only when it is convient for him.

You and your husband can see a lawyer to prepare a step-parent adoption petition.. that is pretty much the only way that your ex will lose his rights. If I were you, I would pursue child support HARD. You can ask him to consent to the adoption, noting that his child support will stop with the adoption. Additionally if arrears are owed to you and not the state, you have your ability to waive you right to collect them as a bargaining chip if he refuses.