[Annebw]

What are the Child abandonment laws for Washington State, how long a time and under what circumstances do they apply? The child in this case is 17 months old in the sole care of its father and has been since the child was 4 months old mother has not supported or cared or had the child since then. The father and mother were never married. Mother gave child to father. The father now wants to marry hi bride to be is called "mama" by the child they are very bonded. The bio-mother says if the father marries she will seek visitation rights with the child. The father wants to charge her with child abandonment if the law allows it. How can the law help?

[stevetcg]

It cant. File for full custody NOW. If the bio mother wants visitation she is entitled to apply for it. You are entitled to child support.

The other issue is that if there is not a custody order in place, the bio mother could take the child and not return her, legally. Right now both parents are the legal parents of the child. There needs to be a court order.

But ultimately there is little you can do to prevent a parent from trying to get visitation.