Non-Custodial Parent Has No Contact with Her Kids

[grimsmom]

My question involves a child custody case from the State of: Oklahoma

Someone help please. My husband and I have custody of his children from a previous marriage. She has not seen her kids in over 6 months now and has only spoken to them once (when I called her at work because they were in tears). One of the kids is handling it fairly well but the other is an emotional wreck and cries almost daily. I really don't mind her not seeing them because her house is atrocious and they still sleep in bed with her when they go there (they are 9 and 11) and there's no supervision, which is why we managed to take custody 4 years ago. I love my step-boys but can't help but think there should be some consequence to their mom. Am I wrong? Is there anything we can/should do? Any help would be appreciated as we cannot afford to spend a ton on attorney consults.

[LawResearcherMissy]

Is there anything we can/should do?

Love and support the boys, and make sure they understand that it isn't their fault. In your shoes, I'd see about getting the kids into counseling.

There is no way to compel an NCP to exercise her visitation rights. If she doesn't want to, she doesn't have to, and she can't be forced. Ultimately, it will be she who loses out.

[grimsmom]

That is what we have been doing and we have had a therapist involved (which of course she doesn't pay her part of). It makes it worse because there are some special ed issues at play also. Do we have the right to terminate her rights at this point?

[llworking]

That is what we have been doing and we have had a therapist involved (which of course she doesn't pay her part of). It makes it worse because there are some special ed issues at play also. Do we have the right to terminate her rights at this point?

There is very little chance that a judge would agree to an involuntary termination of mom's parental rights when its only been six months. Its hard to do it sometimes when its been six years.

[aaron]

Do we have the right to terminate her rights at this point?

Are you talking about stepparent adoption?