Child Abuse & Neglect

questions & answers

Question: How can I prove child abandonment from my baby’s father in order to get sole custody? He does not help out in any way financially or physical care of the child, does not even ask about him so how would I go about proving that?

Answer: You do not say if there is a court order in place establishing custody (now called legal decision-making), visitation (now called parenting time), and child support.  If not, you may decide to file for custody and support.  Without a court order, both parents are considered to have equal rights to the child and are equally responsible for support.  If you already have joint custody and your ex is not spending his allotted time with the child and is not providing the required support, you can go back to court and demonstrate that he has not complied with the court's order.  You may want to talk with a lawyer to get more information and some advice.  There are three programs in Arizona that you can use to get inexpensive legal advice and guidance.  One is the modest means program.  You will need to apply for the program and meet the financial qualifications.  Once you are qualified, Modest Means will send you a list of attorneys whose practice covers your area of concern.  You select a lawyer from the list and will be entitled to a one hour consultation for $75.  If you need additional help and if the lawyer agrees to take your case, the most you will be charged is  $75 per  hour.  The telephone number is (866) 637-5341.  Both Maricopa and Pima Counties have lawyer referral programs that offer a 30 minute consult with an attorney.  Maricopa County's Lawyer Referral Service offers its 30 minute consult with an experienced attorney for $40.  The telephone number is (602) 257-4434.  Pima County's Lawyer Referral Service offers a 30 minute attorney consult for $35.  The telephone number is (520) 623-4625.