Biological Mom in Another Country

[misstar05]

My question involves child abuse or neglect in the State of: la

I'm a steparent of kids who's mom left them almost two years ago. At first she called every few months but after we got custody she called once a week. We got full custody last year but didn't go for child support. She calls them every Sunday for an hour. She doesn't send them anything for support oer even a birthday card!! The sad thing is she tells them all about her trips but when it comes to them she is broke. They love her dearly but always has excuses for them. Is that considered abandonment or neglect? Right now she is in irland with some guy and we have no idea if she is married or has a job. Do we have rights for child support? How do international laws work to get custody? Could I adopt them if she doesn't have anything to do with them besides calls once a week? Sorry but that's not a mom!

[Disagreeable]

BINGO!!! Ireland is a foreign reciprocating country for child support services.

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/css/...ce/ireland-frc

[Mr. Knowitall]

You have indicated that the mother has consistent, weekly contact with the children. That's not abandonment. You have not indicated that the children are in a home that is neglectful or inadequate - nor would I expect you to do so given that they're in your home - so the children are not being neglected.

If child support has been ordered, you can attempt to enforce the support. Talk to the child support agency responsible for your case about initiating collection proceedings.

If you choose, you can propose to the mother that she consent to stepparent adoption.

[misstar05]

yeah, I think we got the custody because she did neglect them. She dropped them off almost two years ago then for 6 months she called every few months. We told her we were going to court and she would refuse to send an address. "On September 10, 1997 the child support reciprocity agreement between Ireland and the U.S. became effective and Ireland was declared a Foreign Reciprocating Country." How do they inforce that law? I couldn't find that answer on the website. We have no idea of her address because she moves every couple of months and refuses to send an address so wouldn't that mean that we could still file? We aren't even sure that she has a job so would her b/f or husband have to pay if he is working?

I will look on that site that you posted. Thank you so much!!

[Antigone]

yeah, I think we got the custody because she did neglect them. She dropped them off almost two years ago then for 6 months she called every few months. We told her we were going to court and she would refuse to send an address. "On September 10, 1997 the child support reciprocity agreement between Ireland and the U.S. became effective and Ireland was declared a Foreign Reciprocating Country." How do they inforce that law? I couldn't find that answer on the website. We have no idea of her address because she moves every couple of months and refuses to send an address so wouldn't that mean that we could still file? We aren't even sure that she has a job so would her b/f or husband have to pay if he is working?

I will look on that site that you posted. Thank you so much!!

Let me just clairfy because you seem very unsure of what has gone on here. YOU have custody, or DAD has custody of his children?