My question involves a child custody case from the State of: NJ
My daughter was born in June 2005. Her father and I were never married. He is on the birth certificate. We split up when my daughter was 14 months old. He has made no attempt to be a part of her life and I have not tried to keep him from being involved in her life. Shortly after I moved out, I had my daughter's last name legally changed to mine. Her dad was notified and given opportunity to dispute the change, and he did nothing. He does not attempt to see or contact her and I have never filed a custody claim or filed for child support. My daughter will be 6 next month, she is a happy, wonderful girl with plenty of positive male role models in my brothers, my father and my uncles. We have the opportunity next year to go on a family cruise and I will need to get a passport for my daughter. Will I have to attempt to contact her father for this process? Is there any reason that I should obtain an attorney and petition to have him removed from her birth certificate all together? Just looking for a starting point - thanks!

