I am trying to figure out how I can file for abandonment against my daughter's father to get his rights revoked. He is in the state of California and I am in the state of Alabama. If anyone has any answers to my question, it would be greatly appreciated.

What is your goal in taking this action?

I also have to ask, his righs is visiting ( if he has abandoned the child, then he is not visiting anyway) But you need to file in the court that issued the child custody order.

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Originally Posted by LadyB

What is your goal in taking this action?

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My goal is to get his rights revoked to change my daughter's last name because he hasn't called or done anything for my daughter since I left him and went to a domestic violence shelter in California. She was 2 months old when we left. So, I want to get his rights revoked in case anything happens to me to assure that she will go to my family and not to a meth head.

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Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

I also have to ask, his righs is visting ( if he has abondoned the child, then he is not visting anyway) But you need to file in the court that issued the child custody order.

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So, that means that I have to go back to California to do it? I know people who have done it different states. He has no sort of custody. He isn't allows to see my daughter until he completes a 52 week batters program and a drug rehab. That is what the court ordered.

You should file in your own State with the help of a good family attorney. Where in Alabama are you? I am in Baldwin County

I am in Madison County. I talked to a family law attorney about child support and they told me that I had to go to California to get an attorney out there. Is it going to be the same sanario? And do you know anything thing about how much it may cost me? Like a few thousand, or do you think that it is more?

If it was originally filed in California, then California has jurisdiction over the matter. You would have to file a motion to change jurisdiction, however, that means serving the father. In order to obtain an abandonment award you have to attempt to locate the father by several different means including posting ads in the paper and so forth. You have to show a good faith effort in attempting to contact him to allow him to "defend" himself against this action. Sounds dumb doesn't it, talk about ironic! Anyway, you can hire a lawyer in your own state to petition for a change of jurisdiction at least. You do not have to hire a California lawyer to my belief. I know someone in Nebraska who did that... the order was in California and he had it moved to Nebraska.