NJ deadbeat threatens return

Hi - I'll try to keep this brief. I'm single divorced mom of 6 yr. old. Father whereabouts unknown since child was 2. Child has no recollection of father. Father was abusive to me, alcoholic and I suspect drug abuser. I have restraining order, sole legal and physical custody. He owes over $30 K in CS arrears. I have no intention of ever collecting on this - I just want to document his neglect. Anyhow, I have recently recieved mail from him. My lawyer says not to worry and not to respond. (He has to petition the court for this to be legitimate.) From a family friend in the police business, I have learned that he has had two drunk driving violations and his licence suspended within the last year. He is also facing prosecution for getting caught while driving with a suspended licence and lying to a judge about this (computers have not caught up with his activities yet.)
Here is my problem. I am VERY nervous that he will persue this. My lawyer says that if he does, he can get supervised visitation, but that I can request it be in the presence of a terapist. She seems to think that this is good. I think that no contact with this person is good contact for a 6 year old impressionable and sensitive child. Basically, I wonder if there is any way to prevent visitation totally, should he persue the matter. I am so fearful of this person, and back in the days when he was still around, he constantly threatened to kidnap my son. He is capable of anything, and I fear that my son would be totally shattered by having to meet this person and know that he is his father. Any advice, experience or knowledge to share?
Thanks!

The father has a right to see his child. It is up to the courts to take that away from him. Regardless of his past.

I hope your friend in *LAW ENFORCEMENT* knows that by giving you such information, he/she is jeapordizing his career.

Who is going to pay for these supervised visits in the presence of a therapist? He obviously isn't.

My honest opinion is that it's good that you want to protect yourself and your child, but if you insist on keeping the child from the legal father, you may get in more trouble than you think. My suggestion is wait and see if the father does actually show up. Have all your information together to protect your child. If you can get your restraining order renewed and have it include your child. Notify the school to not let anyone take the child with out YOU talking to the teacher and school first. I also suggest moving to a new city/ town/ state if possible.

Good Luck,
U

[LegalBeagle]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ukiah:
[b]The father has a right to see his child. It is up to the courts to take that away from him. Regardless of his past.[/b]

You should swop your 2nd and 3rd sentences around, then it would be clearer.

[b]Who is going to pay for these supervised visits in the presence of a therapist? He obviously isn't.[/b]

If a court ordered this, then a judge would probably make him pay.. and if he did not, then there would be no visitation.

[b]My honest opinion is that it's good that you want to protect yourself and your child, but if you insist on keeping the child from the legal father, you may get in more trouble than you think. [/b]

Yes and no.. If a court ordered the visitation and she refused then yes.. but until that time, our poster can do everything she can to stop it. With his record it would not be looked badly on by a resonable judge.

[b]If you can get your restraining order renewed and have it include your child. [/b]

Unless there is some abuse to the child then that is unlikely. It is one thing to abuse a parent, another to abuse a child.