united-states new-york-state child-abuse
need terminology for visitation matter
<p>I am a volunteer translator-advocate for a friend.  Her son used to have shared custody, but a couple of months ago, my friend went to family court to change this.  Now my friend has custody but the father has visitation rights, for two days per week.  The father may choose whichever days he likes.  (He has an irregular, somewhat unpredictable work schedule.)</p>

<p>The father is upset about the change, and has stopped answering his phone.  He doesn't respond to text messages either.  He has not taken the initiative to have his son for a visit.  He has not responded to a letter the boy dictated to me which we sent through the mail.</p>

<p>What is a succinct way of describing the fact that the father has, in essence, abandoned the child emotionally?  (He is still paying child support.)  I need a succinct description for the purposes of letting the child's school know, so they can be sensitive to the child's feelings.  (He is relieved not to be living half-time with his father, who was abusive, but at the same time he is devastated at the total lack of contact.)</p>

<p>In a case like this I would consider creating a Parenting Plan to cover details around visitation and communication and advance notice issues.  Create the plan to be fair, and include specifics (like using email, and specifying the addresses). </p>

<p>Petition the court to accept the parenting plan as it is necessary for effective co-parenting of the child.</p>

<p>Parenting plans can cover any issues which there needs to be common agreement on, such as accomplishing school work, diet, medical care and do on. But the end objective is to enhance stability for the child.</p>

<p>The term for the parent who is not involved would be something like a non-participative co-parent.  It is important to remember that both parents have obligations to the child, not limited to finances.  And in this instance one of the parents has elected, rather unilaterally, to not parent (at least to a significant extent).  </p>

<p>He is "non-communicative" or has "ceased to communicate" with his son, and has "refrained from participating in his parenting time." He has become "uninvolved' in his son's life.</p>

<p>FWIW, however, there isn't a lot of formal legal terminology in custody law so any language that clearly conveys the situations is fine and generally there is no good reason to be particularly brief or succinct in explaining a situation like this. More factual detail is better than precise terminology.</p>
