Any precendents for abandonment cases?

[Medicmom]

New Jersey...
status: divorced since 06/00, sole custody of three minor children, absent parent left the state in 1995, has not seen children or paid child support since 1996. (Support, visitation and custody orders are all current, but cannot be enforced due to inablity to locate absent parent)
My questions is, my former spouses abandonment of our children has caused them tremendous emotional damage, they have had to go without doctors vists, medication at times, dental visits. He relocated to another state wilfully and intentionally to avoid paying child support, and has made no attempt to contact his children.
I have thought about bring a suit against him. But do not know A) if it is possible B) if it would help anyone C)if it would help to change the laws in New Jersey for child support enforcement.

Does anyone know of any precendents for a law suit like this? Would it help to change any laws? Can anyone help?

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

New Jersey...
status: divorced since 06/00, sole custody of three minor children, absent parent left the state in 1995, has not seen children or paid child support since 1996. (Support, visitation and custody orders are all current, but cannot be enforced due to inablity to locate absent parent)
My questions is, my former spouses abandonment of our children has caused them tremendous emotional damage, they have had to go without doctors vists, medication at times, dental visits. He relocated to another state wilfully and intentionally to avoid paying child support, and has made no attempt to contact his children.
I have thought about bring a suit against him. But do not know A) if it is possible B) if it would help anyone C)if it would help to change the laws in New Jersey for child support enforcement.

Does anyone know of any precendents for a law suit like this? Would it help to change any laws? Can anyone help?

My response:

I don't practice in New Jersey, and hopefully someone who does will "pop in" to give you specifics.

However, from your description of events, you may in fact have good grounds for terminating his parental rights. That way, he can't just, all of a sudden, come back into your life or the children's lives, demanding visitation. If he did, you could have him arrested.

Since he's gone underground, it's highly doubtful that you'll be getting any money in the foreseeable future.

Once last note: Even if you did receive an order to terminate his rights, all monies owed to you for the children up to that point would still, and forever, be owed to you, even if he died. You could, in fact, obtain the money from his Estate.

Good luck to you.

IAAL