[momoften]

My ex-husband and I divorced 3 years ago and in that time he has paid none of the court-ordered child support. He very rarely calls and we have no contact information (address or phone) for him. He has seen the children 3 or 4 times in the last year and a half. I think my children would benefit from relieving the off-again, on-again nature of this relationship. What are my options? Has he legally abandoned them?

[vernalevs]

You got a court appointed child support order, and by not paying, he's breaking the law.. Call child services and tell them you're getting nothing. As far as I know, if you know his SS number, he can be traced to see where he works. The money should be automatically taken out of his check by his employer. However, if he's not working or working under the table, you still have recourse. Child services can help, and he can be forced to pay. You never should have let him get away with it for as long as you did. Why should he see his kids if he's not being a responsible parent?

[momoften]

Thanks for your response. I am aware of how to pursue child support, but what I am asking is whether he has, in fact, abandoned the children by his actions, and if I can act on that, by filing abandonment paperwork and terminating his parental rights.

[Fr_Chuck]

No, these are not normally grounds to break any parental rights.

You may go back to take away his visits, you may limit his access to the