I have a 10 year old daughter whom I would love to see or talk to. I have not been able to be in contact with her for 5 years now. I have not seen her since she was 1. I call once a week but her mother refuses to answer the phone. Please help me.

There is no shared custody arrangement set up ? Please explain the particulars. Are you divorced, separated?

You need to provide more info here. Were you married to the mother? Was there every any court orders for custody or visitation? Are you the child's legal father? Do you pay child support?

The bottom line here is you need to go to court to create or enforce custody and/or visitation. Just calling once a week is doing nothing.

You need an attorney. They will need all the details and can try to get a visitation arrangement in place. If there is a visitation order in place, it's way past time to petition the court to hold her in contempt for obstructing your access to the child and you need to hop to it before your child finishes growing up without you.

Why would she do this? What was your history? Was there a history of drug or alcohol abuse? Did you tell her to have an abortion? Was there domestic violence between you? Tell us the full deal so we can give the best advice.

I won't say you need an attorney, not without more details, though having one would certainly help. So give us more details so we can advise.