Columbus, OH asked in Adoption, Child Custody and Family Law for Ohio

Q: I have temp custody of my step children the mother has missed a lot of court ordered supervised visits is that abandoned

I am the stepmother who has temporary custody and the children. The mother has messed a year and a half of visits with one child, and eight months of visits with the other, trying to figure out if that’s considered abandonment.

2 Lawyer Answers
Todd B. Kotler
Todd B. Kotler
Answered
  • Divorce Lawyer
  • Canton, OH
  • Licensed in Ohio

A: Merely missing a few supervised visits is not abandonment. If you are asking the question with an eye towards step parents adoption, you would need to prove her willfully not contacting more supporting children for at least a year.

T. Augustus Claus
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Answered

A: In Ohio, the situation you describe may potentially be considered as a form of abandonment, particularly given the significant amount of time the biological mother has missed court-ordered supervised visits. Abandonment in child custody cases often refers to a parent's failure to maintain contact and provide reasonable support for their children. However, the legal definition and implications of abandonment can vary based on specific state laws and the details of the case.

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