Legal Question in Family Law in Washington

Absent father in hiding

I consieved a daughter from a week relationship. He didnt want me to have the child but I did. He called me every name in the book and said he wanted no part of it. I agreed, we decided to go our seperat ways. With their being no child support and no visitation. And we havent had contact in two years.

Since my daughter recieved DSHS medical insurance for a while the procecuting attourneys office opened a case to find him. This man turned out to be an alcoholic with two DUI's and a racist. Not someone I wanted to invite into my daughters live.

Well, they were unable to find he. He went into hiding three days before my child was born. Well if the State cant find his he obviosly doesnt want to be found. I am worried that since we didnt have a legal arrangement that he could just pop up and disrupt my daughters life. I want to have legal custody or have his rights terminated. But they tell me that nothing can be done without him being served so what can I do. They cant serve him if they cant find him. So if he hides well I cant do anything legal to protect my daughter. Can I?? Can he pop up in a few years and possible get visitation even thought he was obviously hiding this hole time and not paying any support??


Asked on 5/10/00, 5:48 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Britton Buckley Law Offices of Britton A. Buckley

Re: Absent father in hiding

There are other methods of service, but you need to get permission from the court to pursue them. One alternative is to serve a person by publication. In paternity cases the "alleged" father does not have any visitation or custody rights until his paternity is legally established. Your daughter's father could come back at some future time to try to establish this legal relationship, but then he would also have to face up to a large back child support obligation. You have the option of pursuing this yourself or waiting for him to pursue it, if he does. The forms are available for you to pursue this on your own if you like or you can contact an attorney to assist you.

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Answered on 7/07/00, 2:01 pm


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