My question involves child abuse or neglect in the State of: Texas
Ok, so I'm not sure if I'v got this is the right thread or not, but here we go.
My children are 4 and 3 years old. They have not seen their bio father since February 2011. He has paid child support but is over $4k behind. I dont know where he lives now or how to contact him. I do know that he has a new girl friend and and new baby, but that is all I know.
We were together 3 years from 2007-2010 and in that time he did drugs and wouldnt keep a job, was verbally abusive to me and the kids. He screamed so loudly in my son's face (who at the time was only 2-3 months old)that at 3 he is still terrified of any loud noise. We have gone to court. I have full custody and he has supervised visits, if he passes a mandatory drug test.
I am wanting to change my children's names to either my maiden name or to the step father's name. He and I have been married for almost 2 years and he has wanted to adopt them but we have to get the bio dad's rights revoked. and i cant file for abandonment because he paid his child support 6 months ago. and he has to go 2 years with no contact at all. including child support.
My lawyer just keeps telling me to wait till he is $5-6k behind and then contact him and offer him a deal. saying that if he signs over his rights we will drop all back child support claims and he wont have to go to jail. which seems like an ok plan but im so tired of all this waiting and if he keeps making payments just every now and then when he has a job and its pulled from his checks i wont ever be able to get there.
If i have to go to court to get the name change approve i will. i just want something to get done. Their father obviously doesn't care about them he just feels this is a game and if he keeps his rights he wins.
please any advice would be greatly appreciated.

