Odessa, FL asked in Family Law for Florida

Q: Can a father lose his rights to children after 60 days of complete failure to co-parent?

His license has been suspended since March for non-payment of support. Now, I have learned that the people living in his home are a drug dealer, a crack addict, and several drifters in and out. It's a 4-bedroom trailer, all rooms taken, so my boys have to sleep on the couch surrounded by weird strangers. He has been living this way for over a year and I'm just finding out about their room (lack of). After learning this, they have not been to see him in over a month. He has not tried to make contact either. He sleeps all day when my kids are there too! For my children's safety they are not going over there. I know support and time-sharing are separate, but at this point, he's not even trying to make contact and his home is dangerous. Last I tried was 5/26. Even my children hate going to his house because they are not comfortable there (ages 6 and 8), he is a horrible influence, and he is not for their best interests. He's a deadbeat and now apparently, a drug addict. (3 wk ends per mo)

Related Topics:
1 Lawyer Answer
Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
Answered
  • Tallahassee, FL
  • Licensed in Florida

A: There is no magic moment when a parent can have their parental rights taken away; and there is no way to do that without the parent being involved and making conscious decisions--which seem unlikely here. However, if you are truly worried about the health, safety and/or welfare of your children you should take immediate steps to protect the--no just keep them from him. Hire a lawyer--or seek free legal services from any legal aid organization where you live.

1 user found this answer helpful

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.